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University of Illinois Library 





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THE CITY BOOK 


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ILLUSTRATED 


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CONTAINING 


A SURVEY of THE CITY ADMINISTRATION 
AN ANALYSIS of THE PORT of HOUSTON 
A HISTORICAL SKETCH of HOUSTON 


and 


A BRIEF OUTLINE of THE ACTIVITIES 
of THE VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS 


+o Chill Iga e- 


Norman Henry Beard 


Gditor 
(Editor 1922 City Book) 


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CONTENTS 
Page No 
A Survey of the City Administration— 
Penis, Ofenapid sO TOwtlien: erate aah siete ve antely Pre oh 
ioc Onical sm etch sOfo FlLOnstotay. a2 Pal a ates Hees, 32 
Meters and atid Departinentt patent c.08 . ga thats oa ore 45 
Mites co epartinett sac .s we es ci anes Mee eh eda hcg Do 
Maremurnter~ WenartmMentss ga newton fetid sis oe gal ae laos.t wore ae 6 59 
iemetreet. Ady Drage: LENart nents yy unte . ohe ota ent. « 64 
Mirewitewals Department facie ee as Fok ee oes 69 : 
POM anh Pore BUS wae (olmn Mey a td Coc Ml es ee i 9 a cae 73 
PbicmemmenoMercn Lepartimiettreg, male tnrsl olg Ueleis iiss a sre ¢ 77 
Gem DLGEM COGIC 95 a5, iets maine ter ue Miers Meco A wigs os ai 83 
Semi meiiicey COMMISSION enone te ies ce Vo ek ass 89 
: Game tioiiee ines DEPALtinentines sot cstye ch bi meena dja clrs. screw Cask OF 
Panera DatirGM mee EAT KS! os eg hgh t betel aealle gist he was Ade VIS 
eee DAn Melty Ore E UDG, met vice. wade, -ns afeee e's ee shes 119 
Sr SVCAIR LEO DATAIICUCs: <.. 2 nyiian tes ot ai) Nek ae he Kran eels 125 
MpemE LeCLL Vaal epartirielit: oar stay as We fal ale oe sid Swans 135 
Menemavecreationmepar tients win aay ay sd) aes «aul toe done. woke. oe 143 
ares Minaieipa ly Golf Course 01-8. 55 <2, rai of lease kava eas 149 
fiinee EI Oiist Gere POUNCALION |. siete te wake eine tian srs ee ana bas 
hes Corporation: Court: 5. ..5.% Bey OMe cn eee inl s a 159 
Pion Uenartrients Ol s.rOnitecttrenw. so. nen tac nee sai ees lol 
Mier onoctalwmervice <DuUurealt on. to vas Sho SER ees ee 163 
Periee UD HC int atie ies ae eet ead = ee ar Caio e ees LOW 
PUISeE ACUI sca SCCTII Oe ast he eh. | Sea oon RPI eh es che <tc ate Nea" 
PA eis Se Gre Le aE OFtCOR ELOUSCOD mats hut ta 2 5) ests ew sysctl 181 


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Years of Rapid Growth 


By H. Clay Waters 


HE story of Houston for the last four years is one of marvelous progress and 
achievement. 


It may have been equaled; it hasn’t been surpassed. in this country where the 
wonderful progress of city growth is one of the wonders of the modern world. 


In that four year period the city has struck its stride toward its goal as the metropo- 
lis of the whole Southwest. -It has begun to realize on the dreams and ambitions of 
those city builders, who for a half century have never doubted but that here is to be one 
of the cities of the greatest nation of the earth. 


Its port in that time has come into its own, and no port in the history of the world 
ever had a more rapid growth, or possessed such potential possibilities for the future. 


As gratifying as may have been the progress of the city prior to this time, no simi- 
lar period in the entire former history of the city has been so filled with material growth 
as have the four years just closed. It is baffling to one when he attempts to condense 
into a brief review the accomplishments of the City during this epoch making period. 


Just four years ago, when the present city administration was ushered into power, 
the City had not yet recovered from the stagnation necessarily incident to the war. But 
almost instantly the recovery was quick and substantial. Private initiative along every 
line began to reassert itself. The people responded to the urgent call of the city govern- 
ment for funds to keep pace with this marvelous growth, and so readily did they do so, 
that the municipal government has not only been enabled to keep pace with the rapid 
growth of the city, but actually to go ahead of it. 


More pavement than in any other two similar periods of the city have been con- 
structed, streets have been widened, driveways along bayous have been constructed, here- 
tofore inaccessible sections of the city have been pierced by highways, new park sites have 
been secured, old park sites have been improved, sewers have been constructed to nearly 
every portion of the city, great strides have been made in drainage work, handsome new 
public buildings have been built and in many ways the city transformed almost as if 
by magic. And after the four years, and with the same administration in control, we 
stand right on the threshold of even greater achievements, under a municipal program 
of improvement that will dwarf what has gone before. 


Streets 
Let’s. take for example, street paving for the past four years. Houston has today 
119.49 miles more of paved streets than it had January 1, 1921. Of this 43.94 miles is 
hard surfaced, permanent paving, constructed at a total cost to the city and property 
owners of $3,807,312.76, and 75.552 miles of gravel and shell pavements. 


This is a paving record of which any city might be proud but it is not the whole 
story. The city is now in the midst of a paving program, not included in these figures, 
and in the coming year will almost duplicate this record. 


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31 


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The city has adopted the uniform policy of widening all streets when they are paved, 
where it 1s possible, and numerous streets have already been widened to accommodate 
constantly increasing traffic. There has also been written into specifications a provision 
that street names must be placed in the curbing at all street intersections. The City has 
also introduced competition into the bidding for paving and costs to both the city and 
property owners have been greatly reduced. 

Notable achievements have been the paving of Waugh Drive, Buffalo Bayou Drive, 
White Oak Bayou Drive, the completion of Washington Avenue paving, the opening 
and paving of Polk Avenue and widening of McKinney Avenue, all great highways of 
heavy traffic. The bringing close together of all the South Side with Houston Heights by 
construction of Waugh Drive is an accomplishment of signal importance. The paving of 
Telephone Road as far as Kensington is another major achievement. 


Sewers 


This is the record fon three. years in the construction of sanitary sewers: 


MILES 
POZE SS. PS cee eee 1.411 
1922S. oie eee ee ee 6.23 
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In addition to the above there were constructed by private owners in the three years 
a total of 45.011 miles of sanitary sewers at a total cost of $248,912.42. This work was 
al! done under supervision and according to approved plans of the City Engineering De- 
partment, so it becomes an integral part of the City sewerage system. It will be seen that 
in the four years 74.79 miles of sanitary sewers have been constructed at a cost of 
$511,528.42, practically doubling the mileage of the sewerage system. When the present 
plans are completed the City will be 90 per cent covered by sanitary sewerage. 

During the same four years 21.5 miles of storm sewers have been constructed at a 
cost of approximately $1,000,000. 


Bridges 


During this period of time ten bridges have either been completed or are in process 
of construction at a cost of $1,052,848, including bridge repairs. These are the Shep- 
herd Dam Bridge, the Heights Boulevard, the Sabine Street, the Crockett Street, the 
Cleveland Park, the Watson Street, Taylor Street (repairs), and Slaughter Pen Bayou 
Bridge. In addition, work is nearing completion on the Smith Street Bridge. We may 
add to this the North Main Street Subway, begun and completed during the present Ad- 
ministration at a cost of $250,000. 

An’ agreement was made with the Southern Pacific Railroad by which it paid one- 
half of the cost of the North Mam Street Subway, the Street Car Company paying .one- 
half the remaining cost, and the subway is now completed and in use. 

An agreement was made with the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, by which 
that company paid $32,000.00 of the cost-of the construction of the Crockett. Street - 
3ridge, which was another step toward the elimination of grade crossings. 


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The first step has been taken in the construction of the Sabine Street Bridge 
towards the improvement of the permanent exposition site. A dam has been con- 
structed across Buffalo Bayou there which will form a lake. 

An agreement has been reached with the County whereby it agrees to furnish one- 
half of $200,000, for the construction of a bridge across the Ship ,Channel at some 
point just above the Turning Basin, 

Parks 

More has been done for the establishment of a real park system in the last four 
years, than in all the former years of the City’s history. 

Much new land has been added to the park use stem and much improvement work has 
been carried on in the parks. aie 

Notable among park achievements is acquiring of the parks site of 1503 acres at 
Camp Logan in the western section of the City, which is to become a memorial to the 
thousands of soldier boys who trained there during the war as well as the greatest 
recreation ground in Texas. 

The city also purchased a large additional tract of land for Hermann Park. Real 
estate men say both these tracts were bought at a great bargain by the city, and the 
city received a donation of $50,000 from Will C. Hogg in the purchase of the former. 

At Hermann Park a zoo has been created, which. has really become one of the 
show places of the city, visited by thousands of persons on pretty days.. This is an 
achievement almost solely of the last four years. 

Hermann Square was improved at a cost of $4,748 and the City provided from 
current revenues $20,000 for the beautification of Root Memorial Park, a donation of 
the Root heirs to the City: 

In addition to this the City provided $33,000 from current revenues for the general 
improvement of the parks and the purchase of playground equipment. 

There has been constructed at Hermann Park, one of the finest golf courses in the 
South, which has popularized the game of Golf in Houston and made it possible for 
those not wealthy to enjoy this healthful and pleasant outdoor exercise. 

The Miller Memorial, beautiful outdoor amphitheatre, where open air concerts of all 
kinds are held, has been constructed at a cost of $49,779. This was made possible thru 
the generous bequest of Jesse Wright Miller, a citizen of Houston, who left the money 
for park improvements, and his relatives requested it be put in some sort of a memorial 
to his memory, rather than that it be spent for general park purposes. 

A paved highway has been constructed around and thru Hermann Park on what is 
known as Dixie Drive. 

During each summer the city provides funds for holding band concerts in the parks 
and there are free moving pictures, where thousands of people enjoy outdoor recreation. 

In mentioning parks we should not overlook the tourists’ camp at Hermann Park, or 
the playground there for the children of the city, admittedly one of the largest and 
finest in Texas. 

Several thousand destitute persons were employed for park work during December 
1921 and January 1922, to relieve the acute unemployment situation at that time. 


5 


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Traffic 
One of the finest achievements of the last two years was the removal of street car 
tracks from Main Street. The City secured the removal by an agreement with the 
Street Car Company, by which the latter also agreed to expend $1,200,000 in improving 
service. This removal of Main Street car tracks greatly relieves traffic congestion in the 
business district of the City. 


More than a year ago the people voted to abolish jitneys in exchange for many im- 
provements to be made by the Street Car Company, and a settlement of the long dis- 
cussed traction problem was made and the Houston Electric Company has carried out 
its agreement in good faith. 

Another great relief to traffic was the installation of the traffic signal system. Its 
benefits may be seen at a glance at these figures. In 1921, before it was installed, there 
were 189 accidents, with two deaths and twenty-eight persons injured in the congested 
traffic district. In 1922, after its installation, accidents dropped to 102, with one death 
and only 12 persons injured. 

The City Council has recently adopted a new code to regulate traffic, greatly sim- 
plifying the old system and containing numerous new and modern regulations expected 
to greatly reduce accidents. One feature is the further extension of the traffic signal 
lights to several other streets. 


The Port District 


Another major accomplishment of the last four years was the creation of a port dis- 
trict. For many years the. City Government has been burdened with the task of issuing 
bonds for port development purposes. Mayor Holcombe originated and had created by 
the State Legislature the Navigation District, which includes all of Harris County, being 
entirely free from the City Government insofar as issuance of bonds for port develop- 
ment purposes is concerned. 

Since the creation of the Navigation District the people have approved a bond issue 
of $4,000,000 for new wharves and the work is completed. This, with the 30 feet of 
water in the channel, now a reality, means the City will have one of the finest ports on 
the Gulf, with facilities adequate to handle twice the present tonnage. 


In this connection it should be mentioned the long-agitated Manchester Wharf con- 
troversy has been settled and that wharf with sheds constructed at a cost of $169,140. 
The cotton sheds on North Side were completed at a cost of $145,529. In addition 
$35,000 was spent on permanent improvements of the wharves out of current City reve- 
nues before they were taken over by the Navigation District. The cost of the cotton 
sheds also came from City funds. This was done by the City before the port affairs 
were turned over to the Navigation District. 


Public Buildings 


In the erection of new pubic buildings the city has kept up with its progress along 
other municipal lines. 


34 


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The new Police and Fire Station, the most handsome and commodious building of 
its kind in the state, has recently been finished at a cost of $300,000, of which all but 
$100,000 was taken from current city revenues. 


Work has almost been completed on the first unit of a $500,000 library building, the 
money for which has been provided in two bond issues. This handsome civic building 
is located on a whole block of ground in the heart of the city, purchased and to be 
paid for by current taxes. 


In addition, work is progressing on two branch libraries, one on the North Side 
and the other in Houston Heights. They are to cost $50,000 each. The money for 
these comes from the sale of the old library building and site. 


The City, in conjunction with the county, has also completed work on the Jefferson 
Davis hospital, which cost $350,000. It is the finest wholly publicly supported hospital 
in Texas, and includes an insane ward which will make it possible to move the insane 
from the County Jail. 


The City in its old hospital cared for 1,574 patients a year, and in the new hospital 
will be enabled to care for double that number. 


Additions have also been made to the City Tubercular Hospital, notable among 
these one for the care of negro tubercular patients and through a gift of Mrs. James L. 
Autrey, a combination school-hospital for children is being constructed at a cost of 
$75,000. It has only recently completed improvements on the City Auditorium at a cost 
of $400,000. which makes that one of the finest structures of its kind in the entire South. 

Three new fire station buildings have been constructed and much additional fire 
equipment purchased, without taking any money from bond issues. 

In addition to this many smaller city buildings have been constructed, such as 
shelter houses in parks, houses for the animals in the zoo and new buildings to house 
equipment for the departments of the city. 


Police 

The improvements here enumerated are nearly all of a general nature. There have 
been a multitude of improvements, and betterments, purely of a departmental nature. 

But it might be well to mention the many changes and improvements in the Police 
Department. The Traffic Squad has been entirely reorganized and put under a captain 
of police. It is now, without a doubt one of the finest Traffic squads of any city of this 
size in the country. 

The standard of personnel of the Police Department has been greatly improved; the 
men are better dressed than formerly, and a greater spirit of loyalty to their superiors 
and the public service exists. 


‘Miscellaneous 


An article of this length can but merely enumerate many achievements of the last 
four years in the Municipal Government. 


During that time a City Business Manager has been created, under which is corre- 
lated the purchasing of city supplies, the management of the municipal store and the city 


3 


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market house and Auditorium and a host of other activities. This department has 
proven a great saving to the city and has greatly simplified and put under central and 
efficient direction many activities of the city that formerly were scattered thru -many 
departments. 


The: office of Public Service Commissioner has been created. The expense of this 
office is paid for by income of franchise tax on public service concerns of the city for 
that express purpose, altho the appointment of the commissioner and his entire direction 
is in the hands of the City Council. 


In this connection it might be mentioned the City Government has secured a reduction 
of one cent per kilowatt hour in electric light rates. 


It has secured a reduction of street car.fares from straight seven cents to four 
tokens for 25 cents. In addition it has made agreements by which the company has 
spent and is spending several millions in extensions of lines and betterment of service 
and has secured the establishment of three bus lines, something entirely new in the city. 

The names of hundreds of city streets have been changed to do away with duplica-. 
tions. 


A new city building code has been compiled and will soon be enacted ay the City 
Council. ) 


A new code of city ordinances has been made and published in book form, making 
accessible many new city ordinances that formerly could be found only in city recor 
books, 


A department of architecture has been created, which does all city work, saving the 
city large fees. 
The Houston fire department was completely motorized on February 11, 1922. 


The double platoon system for firemen was established, cutting the number of hours 
of duty from 24 to 12, 


The city ordered and secured the extension of gas mains to thousands of consumers 
and a great improvement in the service. 


The city farm was re-opened and city convicts removed from jail and many men 
have been rehabilitated and enabled to return to work. 


An amendment to the city charter was adopted by vote of the people increasing 
salaries of commissioners from $2400 to $3600 a year. 
A number of unsightly city dumps, a menace to health, have been eliminated by the 
construction of incinerators. 
_ During the present administration there has also been created a City Planning Com- 
tnission, with a view to mapping out the Houston of the future and making plass for’. 
the growth and expansion of the city in a systematic way. 
All the time the health department has been supported in a liberal manner and has 
undertaken a number of new activities. 
Among these might be mentioned the efforts at mosquito control. While not entirely 
successful as yet it has resulted in a decrease in the number of mosquitoes and elimina- 
tion of much malaria and the minimizing of other diseases. 


36 


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The city has also passed an abattoir ordinance and for the first time in its history 
the meat the people consume is now inspected by the city health department before it is 
put on the market. E 


It also passed an ordinance requiring that all dairies with more than two cows must 
move out of the city limits, except under certain conditions where neighborhoods sign pe- 
titions requesting they be left in their midst. 


With all these increased activities and this vast program of public improvements the 
City Council this year found it possible to cut the tax rate 7144, which will apply to 
taxes payable Srterm ann bh. 


Conclusion 


This is necessarily but a brief sketch, or rather enumeration of some of the things 
that have been done. 


When you speak of the progress of Housion for the four years past, you must speak 
in terms of the superlative. Only recently the people by an overwhelming majority ex- 
pressed confidence in the conduct of the city government, and delivered their mandate 
the growth and progress of the city must not stop, by adopting a bond issue of $1,500,- 
000 for street improvements, storm and sanitary sewers and a library. At the same time 
they approved a bond issue of $3,000,000 for schools, proposed. by the school district, 
which is now entirely separate from the city government, thru the endeavors of this ad- 
ministration. 


The city has every cause to be happy that the great era of ldicars ete and 
growth has not passed. We are in the very midst of it. 


The city stands at the threshold of a future much brighter even sha her past. She 
is going on to greater things and plans already made and in the making give assurances 
her future is to be no less bright than her past. 


37 





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Houston BuiLDING PERMITS By YEARS. 


96,273,850 





97059385 


109.597.280 


135.805000 











131145690 


| 


134,552.670 


143,791,310 





150,100,580 


175,.712.930 





183.023,260 


188,382,520 








1924 1923 1922 1921 19201919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 I9le 


COMPARATIVE CHART oF ASSESSED VALUATIONS 19]2-19P4. 


This Saphic chart tells 2a great story of Jroustons continuous 
progress during the past len years, —__” ——_“ 





1 OT i i TT Ll lL EL i fH | i HH HH 1h || ff | NiG2 ©» 


The Houston of Yesterday, Today and ‘Tomorrow 
By Norman H. Beard 


romance. From the dawn of the early days when rugged pioneers blazed the trail 

as pathfinders of a new civilization and established a little settlement to the present 
afternoon of a metropolis in the making, Houston’s journey along the path of progress 
has been continuous and eventful. It has been a forward march of development and 
achievement and fills the hearts of all of our people with pride. 


Jk HISTORY OF HOUSTON is a beautiful story ripe with action and full of 


As we go into retrospect we can view clearly through our own mind’s eye the sacri- 
fices endured by the settlers of the yesteryear and the services rendered by ambitious 
and loyal citizens of other years and of this present time whose unselfish efforts of un- 
limited extent, together with our own natural advantages have made possible Houston’s 
place among the cities of big things. And from that early dawn in the beginning to the 
afternoon of today and along the roadway of success to the sunset of tomorrow will be 
the climax, when greater Houston will be crowned with wreaths of everlasting glory as 
the Southwest’s greatest city. History will then record page after page of sterling achieve- 
ment which will be a heritage to posterity and an inspiration to those of stability and 
purpose of other localities toward higher ideals and limitless civic endeavor. 


The history of Houston is intimately entwined with the history of Texas. She takes 
her name from the most illustrious hero of Texas history, who carved the independence 
of this mighty state with his sword, at the battle of San Jacinto, when the proud Santa 
Anna fell before his small, but gallant hosts of freemen. 


And Houston claims that sacred field as its own for it lies only a few miles away, 
along the banks of the Houston Ship Channel. 


The din of that battle, that gave Texas birth as a Republic had hardly died away 
until Houston was born. The city owes its birth to a disagreement between the found- 
ers of Harrisburg and the Allen brothers. The latter left the town of Harrisburg and in 
1837, the year after the freedom of Texas was won, moved to the present site of Houston 
and founded this city. 


Like all pioneers, who found what the years are apt to develop into mighty cities, 
they met with obstacles that would have discouraged those made of less stern material. 
The worst handicap was the lack of roads and means of transportation. 


But undaunted by this the early settlers constructed a plank road from Houston, 
north into the interior of Texas. Already in that old plank road was laid the chart that 
marked out the direction which was to flow the commerce from a mighty hinterland to the 
sea. Over this came the slow ox teams, with their heavy wagons, carrying the loads of 
cotton, corn and cattle, produced by the settlers in the interior of the state, and carrying | 
back to them the supplies which they needed. Old settlers can tell you today how even 
then the ship channel was a part of their lives, for to its banks they brought their prod- 
ucts and loaded them on barges, which carried them to New Orleans. 


39 


oo Kh —— —_—— I — 1 fH | A ig =+ 


No sooner had Houston beeri founded than talk of construction of a railroad began. 
But it was 1847 before it took tangible form. Then General Sydney Sherman associated 
himself with a number of prominent Houston and Galveston men, organized a company 
and began construction of the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railroad. By the end 
of 1852 the road had been completed to the Brazos, 32 miles and in 1869 reached Alley- 
ton, seventy-nine miles from Harrisburg. This first railroad of Texas is now the Galves- 
ton, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. 


From this humble beginning has grown the great railroad system of this state, with 
a total mileage of 16,000. And today Houston boasts proudly that “seventeen railroads 
tHeetithe sea here. 


The story of the growth of Houston from the little village at the head of navigation 
of that day. with its ox teams and its barges, made for shallow water, to the Houston 
of today, with its seventeen great rail systems and its great ocean liners lying at berth 
in its port, is one filled with romance as sparkling as ever writer of fiction penned. 

Here for a time was located the capital of Texas. Here were enacted the most 
stirring scenes of the State’s history in war and peace. Here flourished the flower of 
the Old South. Here came the pioneers, the men of the plains. to trade and meet in 
social concourse. Thru Houston poured the mighty tide of immigration that was to 
turn a wilderness of sage brush and timber jungle into a garden spot of the world. 
Here met the leaders of Texas political thought to nee the destinies of that great em- 
pire. . 

One story of Houston’s past is told in the census figures. Those figures for the last 
sixty years give the population of Houston as follows: 1860, 4,845; 1870, 9,382; 1880, 
16,513; 1890, 27,557; 1900, 44,638; 1910, 78,800; 1920, 138,276; estimated population 
(Greater Houston) 1925, 250,000. 


The Houston of Today 


The Greater Houston of today is a city with an estimated poptilation of 250,000, 
growing at such a rapid rate in both population and territorial extent that those public 
utilities that serve its everyday needs are*finding it almost impossible to keep pace with 
its growth. 

For instance the Houston Lighting & Power Co., already with an investment of more 
than $10,000,000 is investing $10,000,000 more to keep pace with the growth. The Hous- 
ton Electric Co., which has just expended $1,250,000 is spending immediately another 
$1,500,000 to make exparisions to care for the City’s expansion. The Southwestern Tele- 
phone Co., has just announced a program of expending $1,750,000 annually for five years 
in an, effort to keep up with the city. The Houston Gas & Fuel Co., is adding $750,000 
to its plant this year to try and match the demands for gas. 


‘. These are but indications of what the Houston of Today is fone in the way of 
growth. . 


Greater Houston covers much more territory than is included in the corporate 
limits. So rapidly has it spread out that it now touches. on many sides densely built up 
séctions and it is not a rash prediction to say’ that ere long the Harrisburg founded in 
1837 and the Houston founded in’ the samie vear will lock arms as one incorporated city 
as they have locked arms as one in population and common interest. 


40 


DI 8 ht i LL LH LHL A ig - 


The rapid growth of the City has brought up many novel and complex prob!ems for 
the municipal government to solve. The rapid growth has made necessary vast improve- 
ments, far beyond the power of current tevenues to meet. 


Necessarily, as in every growing city, these demands have been met by the issuance 
of bonds. But Houston’s bonded indebtedness today is as low per capita as most cities 
of the country, altho $3,000,000 of those bonds are represented in port facilities. The 
City closed the last year with $210,000.00 surplus in its treasury. 


The city has a commission form of government, the second of its kind to be or- 
ganized in the United States. It consists of a mayor and four commissioners, elected 
by the voters. Each commissioner is assigned to direct a department, and is held ac- 
countable for that department, altho the mayor and four commissioners constitute the 
commission, which passes upon all matters of importance or of general city interest. 


The tax rate in Houston is $1.825 on the $100. It has a scientific system of valuing 
land, known as the ‘Somers system, which has proven so satisfactory that complaints in 
regard to land valuation are so rare in the tax assessors’ office as to attract attention. 


Formerly the school system was a part of the city government, but a year ago the 
Houston Independent School District was organized and the conduct of the schools are 
entirely in the hands of a board of seven members, elected by the voters, alternately, 
four one year and three the next. The School system has sixty (60) primary and gram- 
mar schools, and five (5) high schools and is engaged in spending $3,000,000 on new 
buildings. 

Formerly, also, the port was in charge of the municipal government. But a year ago 
that was separated from the city and is now administered through a board, representing 
the navigation district, embracing all the county. The county commissioners and city 
council each appoint three members and a fourth is appointed at’ a joint session of the 
two boards. It administers port facilities of $10,000,000 constantly increasing in value. 


Houston has the distinction of being the largest inland cotton market in the world 
and the second largest cotton export market in the United States. 


It is- the largest rail center South of St. Louis and thousands of its people find 
work in the shops, on the trains and in the general offices of railroads. 

It.is one of the few cities in the United States with a landlocked harbor system, 
where rail and water transportation. meet at shipside. % 

Houston has a water supply second to none in the United States, with a boundless 
amount of water available at a less cost perhaps than anywhere else in the United States. 
Scores of artesian wells give it a water supply which the United States health service has 
already pronounced the most pure in the .country. ; 

This probably partly accounts for the fact its infant mortality rate last year was the 
lowest in the United States and with a death rate of 11 it was rated by the United 
States health service among the most healthful cities of the United States. 

The ‘climate:of Houston is semi-tropical. The temperature seldom goes below 32 de- 
grees in the winter nor above 98 in the summer and cool gulf breezes make the nights 
delightful. Roses ;bloom here all the year round and home grown strawberries.are always 
on the’ market in February and often eariier in the winter. Great truck loads of home 


41 


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7 


Y 


f 


iar 


A HN NL HH NY Hh HH (RD 


grown vegetables are hauled in daily the year round by truck growers and surround what 
travelers say is the finest market house in the United States. 

Houston is a city of churches and schools. A great art institute, free to all the 
public is nearing completion. The people have provided funds for a_ half-million 
dollar unit of what is to be a million dollar library, in addition to two branch libraries, 
costing $50,000 each. 

Standing at the head of her superb educational system is Rice Institute, ranking with 
the finest universities of this or the Old World. It was founded by the estate of William 
Marsh Rice and its endowment is now $13,000,000, increasing rapidly in value. 


In hospitals it is soon to be well supplied. Besides its great denominational hospita's, 
of which there are three, and numerous private sanitariums, it has now completed build- 
ing the first unit of a $2,000,000 hospital, well endowed, the gift of the late George H. 
Hermann and a $300,000 city-county hospital, besides a tubercular hospital. 


Houston is a great oil center. Within a short radius of Houston are some of the 
great oil fields of the world and the derricks of spouting oil wells may be seen from the 
tops of its buildings. Some of the great oil companies maintain their general offices and 
have erected some of the big buildings of the South to house their thousands of em- 
ployees. It is impossible to calculate in dollars the amount of wealth poured into Hous- 
ton by oil, but it runs into many millions annually. 


Houston is the greatest lumber center of the South and here many of the great lum- 
ber companies maintain offices that employ hundreds of persons each. 


Refineries down the ship channel give employment to housands more of Houston’s 
population and they are expanding and growing at such a rate that big additions to a 
refinery have almost ceased to be a matter of news. 


Houston now offers the finest opportunities of any city in the country to the manu- 
facturer. The raw material lies all around and near. Among these raw materials are 
cotton, wood, lumber, oil, rice, iron ore, sulphur lignite coal and many others. 


The city has the finest railroad facilities of any city in the South with its seventeen 
railroads. It has along the ship channel the finest sites for factories in the United 
States and these sites are all reached by a helt railroad, publicly owned, opening the sea 
to the manufacturer on the one side and unparalleled rail transportation on the other. 
The success of scores of industries, of a diversified nature, along the channel has dem- 
onstrated the advantages of these resources. 


Added to this it has the advantage of the lowest commercial electric power rate in 
the country, and a $10,000,000 plant now in construction on the channel will assure a 
never ending supply of this. But a great coal bunkering plant is in process of construc- 
tion on the channel which is to bring coal from the Birmingham fields by water, greatly 
reducing its cost, by eliminating land freight rates. 

Costs of living here are lower than in many sections. There is an abundant supply 
of labor. Living is desitable, because of good roads, schools, colleges and churches and 
with a climate that has none of the rigors of a northern climate and with bathing in the 
surf near Houston in the summer and unexcelled fishing and hunting the year round. 

There are forty miles of locations on each side of the ship channel,for industries. A: 
belt railroad connects these industries on the land side with all the interior of the coun- 


42 


+i) mH Bm 1m hm 1h 0m 1 HN Hh 1 A Nh Hm 8 9 HN Nh NN HN HN HN YN I> o- 


try and on the water side they are connected with all the ports of the world. Taxes are 
low because most of this water front is outside the limits of any city. 


These are some of the reasons why already plants valued at $50,000,000 have located 
along the channel and why more than $40,000,000 of investments are now being made. 


The railroads play such an important part in the commercial life of Houston that any 
description of the Houston of today would be imperfect without a more detailed account 
of the magnitude of their activities. 


More than 125,000 cars are handled monthly in the great rail terminals about the 
city. In addition to the seventeen railroads Houston is headquarters for express and 
pullman car companies for a vast territory about the city. 


The Southern Pacific maintains general offices and occupies exclusively eleven floors 
of a twelve story building. This system serves over 250 industries on the North Side of 
the Ship Channel alone. The shops of the company are the largest in the South and the 
company is constantly making large additions to them. It builds in these shops everything 
from box cars to the largest locomotives. It repairs on an average monthly 3,000 freight 
cars, 30 passenger cars and 75 locomotives, besides the hundreds of cars and scores of 
locomotives it annually builds. 


These shops employ 2500 men, with a monthly payroll of $325,000. The total payroll 
for railroad employees in Houston are in excess of $1,000,000 monthly. 

To get some idea of the Port of Today as compared with the port of only a few 
years back we have only to take the figures for January of last year. 


Cargoes valued at $17,408,564 passed thru the port in that one month. 


That was an increase of 76 per cent over the same month of the year before and 
a gain of 121 per cent over two years before and 277 per cent over three years before. 
A total of 322,103 tons moved over the port terminals in January. 


These figures tell more eloquently than can words of the rapid growth of the port, 
which is one of the marvels of the shipping world. 


Sixty vessels, or an average of two a day, entered the port in January 1924. This 
was a gain of 17 per cent over the year before, 87 per cent over two years before and 
237 per cent over 1919. 


The city celebrated the shipping of the millionth bale of cotton for this season out 
of the port here on April 3, 1924. 


The Houston of the Future 


None can judge of the future but by the past. We have seen from its earliest days 
of ox teams and barges to the present of mighty railway trains and ocean liners that the 
trend of commerce is from the interior to Houston, where it meets the sea. 

Houston is what geographers and economists call one of the nodal points of com- 
merce—that is a logical point for the commerce of a great empire to reach the sea 
where it may scatter itself to the people of all the world. 

It is at just such points that mighty cities have grown up. It is first necessary that 
the great hinterland that is to send forth its products and call for products in exchange 
be developed. A story of that development is a story of the magic development of Texas. 


43 


re 1 1 i | | VL HN HH (> += 


Secondly, it is necessary that the city, which nature had made the nodal point for 
the handling of commerce, shall be ready to handle it. 


Texas and Port Houston have developed together. While pioneers worked and 
toiled developing Texas, others were working and planning and dreaming of the time 
when Houston would be ready. 


Today finds her ready. The last three years have seen her port grow from a small 
one to one of the great ones on the coast of this country. Houston has begun to harvest 
the fruits of long years of toil. 


The port is in its infancy. Industries have sprung up along that channel as if by 
magic. Great ocean liners seemed all at once to Dome their prows inland to find Houston 
with a welcome for them. 


We might in speaking of the Houston of the future tell in details how many, many 
millions of public and private improvements have been planned for the immediate future 
—how these boulevards along the bayou were to be constructed, how they have just built 
$3,000,000 of new wharves at the port, how millions of dollars in hospitals, new churches, 
magnificent homes is to be spent the next year—plans already made. 

But that isn’t the story of the Houston of the Future. The things of the year, of 
the next two or three years will pale into insignificance before the greater things of 
the years still to come. / 

Those who know. Houston, its past and its present, can speak of its future only in 
terms that sound hyperbolic—they can visualize it only as the metropolis of a mighty 
empire, one of the greatest of the great. 








+i 1 Nh NH LY HL EN HF HL AL HN HH HH A NN LN HH > 


The Tax and Land Department 


H. A. Halverton, 
Tax and Land Commissioner. 
Mayor Pro Tem. 


has stood the test in Houston and each year since the adoption of the unit plan the 
City’s tax commissioners have endeavored to make the system more precise and 
efficient. — 


G iss 1912 the unit system of equalization of real estate values for taxation purposes 


With this unit system in vogue every taxpayer in Houston feels that he is on an 
equal basis with his neighbor, as far as taxation is concerned, and that the taxing of 
property is entirely removed from politics. 


Houston’s taxable values have been more than trebled in the last fourteen years, in- 


creasing from $63,746,693 in 1910 to $205,256,660 in 1924. 


The Tax Department is one of the most important branches of the City Govern- 
ment, for through that office must flow all of the money which is paid in for the operation 
of the City. 


In 1924 the Tax Department collected in taxes and from other sources $6,569,510.02. 


Houston’s Tax Department consists of a Tax and Land Commissioner, elected; As- 
sessor and Collector, Chief Clerk, Assessing Department, Chief Clerk, Collecting Depart- 
ment, Land Calculators, Building Appraiser, general office clerks, stenographers, op- 
erators and a cashier. It also has within the organization a Board known as the Board 
of Appraisers. This Board is composed of the Tax and Land Commissioner, Assessor 
and Collector of Taxes, and the Fire Commissioner, whose duties are to investigate 
and dispose of all disputes arising in the Tax Department relative to value on and 
assessable .property against the rendition of the property owner. In case of a 
disagreement with the decision of the Board of Appraisers by any taxpayer, an ap- 
peal from said Board of Appraisers may be made to the City Council. Not a single ap- 
peal was filed during the year 1924. When the roll or rolls have been carefully’ examined 
and property equitably adjusted, and have eyualized the taxable values thereon, the Board 
of Appraisement reports its action to the City Council. 


Any system of taxation, no matter how perfect at one time, will in a few years get 
out of line in a greater or lesser degree. Conditions in a growing city are continually 
changing and a constant vigilance has to be kept up to keep in touch with the changing 
conditions and values of all assessable property. It is meant by this that real estate is 
constantly changing ownership and values ebb and flow; cheap acreage a few months ago 
is laid out into additions and sold to home owners, necessitating considerably more cleri- 
cal work due to the numerous additional property owners. There. have been many 
changes all through the City during the past year which makes up an increase of ap- 
proximately five thousand assessments in 1924 over the previous year. The duties of this 
office have been made greater and more burdensome year after year on account of added 
territory and a constant increase of population. 


45 


° © 1 1 1 hm a tht me dm me me me me me 4 me AH mH HH ee ee em (gD 


The stationery and records of the Tax Department are composed of the following 
forms: One set of computation slips showing in detail the method of arriving at the 
value of the tract, giving the width of the lot, the depth, unit value or values, the num- 
ber of the lot, block, addition and the owner. One set of building record slips 
showing the size, the number of stories and detailed information regarding the ex- 
terior and interior of every building within the City, including an estimate of 
its present value based upon what it would cost to reproduce, less depreciation 
for age, condition, obsolence or lack of utility. One set of field books, showing 
the location of every building in the City. One set of sectional maps showing the unit 
foot values and all acreage values of the entire City. This map is used in submitting the 
unit foot value to the property owner for criticism or approval. One index map showing 
the boundaries and number of each sectional map. One set of block books and plat books 
covering the entire City. Block books showing individual plats of each block as recorded ; 
plat books showing subdivisions of acreage tracts. Inventory sheets showing the valuation 
of both the taxpayer and the valuation p!aced by the Board of Appraisement upon the 
land, improvements, and all personal property by separate columns. This sheet also 
shows for reference the map number, the volume number, page number, tract number, 
lot, block, addition, which serves as a permanent record and reference. 


The Tax Rolls are divided into three classes, namely, the Rendered Rol, the Un- 
rendered Roll and the Supplemental Roll. From January Ist to the last day of February 
of each year each citizen has the opportunity of rendering his assessable property for tax- 
ation on the assessment inventory blank, and must subscribe thereto that his inventory 
contains a full, true and complete list of all taxable property owned by him, or held in 
his own name, or held for someone else, and that he has given true answers to all ques- 
tions propounded to him. 


All property thus assessed, between the above mentioned dates, make up what is 
known as the Rendered Roll, and comprised $165,513,710 for the year of 1924. From 
March lst to June 30th of each year it becomes the duty of the Tax Department to 
assess all assessable property not already assessed by the owner—this is known as the 
Un-rendered Roll and comprised $37,482,620 for the year 1924. In the past as well as the 
present there is assessable property that either from one cause or another has not been 
rendered for taxation by the owner and has escaped the attention of the Tax Department 
to be placed on the Un-rendered Roll so in that event from July Ist to December 31st of 
each year the Tax Department diligently looks for all such assessable property that 
has not been assessed by the owner or the Tax Department and any such assessable prop- 
erty found is placed on what is known as the Supplemental Roll, which comprised $2,- 
260,330.00 for the year 1924. : 


During the month of January of each year, a notice is sent to all property owners 
whose names appear on the delinquent list, notifying them of the fact that their prey- 
ious years’ taxes remain unpaid and that a ten per cent penalty has been added and in- 
terest is being charged at the rate of six per cent per annum, as specified in the City 
Charter, and also notifying them that unless they pay up before March Ist following, 
that their name and property will appear and be published in’ the delinquent list in a 
daily newspaper for four consecutive weeks. Immediately after the publication of the de- 
linquent list, as stated above, the property owner is again notified that within a stated 


46 


«oll 1 1 1 10 1h me 18 1h FF A EL M— ie Hm HHI © . 


period from the date of the notice that suit will be instituted for the collection of taxes 
due. This is the last and final notice before suit is filed. 


It is necessary in filing suits that all tracts of land be abstracted in order to locate 
all persons having any interest or holding liens or claims against the property in order 
that the Tax Department may notify them of the fact that suit is about to be instituted 
for the collégtion of the delinquent tax. During the year 1924 the Delinquent Tax Depart- 
ment abstracted 3,000 tracts of land, filed suits against approximately 1,000 tracts of land, 
and obtained approximately 200 judgments. After the filing of a suit it is necessary to 
have service properly issued to the correct address of all parties interested and to have 
them served with proper citation. The Tax Attorney prepares all judgments and super- 
vises the issuance of all executions and sales. This Department also issues on an average 
of three hundred tax certificates monthly; also makes out approximately 6,000 delinquent 
tax statements. The total collections of delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and other costs 


in 1924 were $551,752.26. 


The total assessed value of the rolls mentioned above for the year of 1924 was $205,- 
256,660.00, and at the rate of $2.62 per hundred dollars valuation, should have produced 
a revenue of approximately $5,435,441.72, of which the Tax Department collected the 
sum of $5,098,081.88, leaving delinquent the amount of $337,359.84. All these figures in- 
clude school taxes collected. The Tax Department, in addition to assessing in excess of 
50,000 assessments, and collecting the above mentioned amount as City Taxes, issued all 
city licenses, from the peanut vendor to the travelling circus, also collected from all 
other departments, except the Water Department, miscellaneous revenue to the amount 
of $851,499.81. The. total collections of the Tax Department for the year 1924 were as 
follows: Current Tax, School Taxes and Occupation Tax $5,166,258.45; Delinquent 
Taxes $551,752.26; Miscellaneous Collections, $851,499.81, making a total of $6,569,510.02. 


Among the many important activities of this Department is the assessment and _ col- 
lection of taxes for the Houston Independent School District—this has been done to the 
entire satisfaction of the Board of Education; all reports on receipts and disbursements 
have been entirely satisfactory to all concerned. 


The Tax and Land Department has been unusually active during the year 1924 in 
the valuation and the handling of the different purchases of real estate by the City, 
usually taking care of the purchase of property by the City from its beginning to the de- 
livery of the warrant. Among the large deals handled during 1924 were the purchase of 
land for Buffalo Bayou Drive, the Boyle Hotel property, to be used for municipal pur- 
poses, the acquiring of the Memorial Park and numerous purchases for opening of streets 
—all these transactions have been satisfactorily handled both to the City Council and 
the persons from whom the land was purchased. 


The Tax and Land Department is well organized and highly efficient and serves the 
citizens faithfully. 








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. 





Views showing some of Housivon's 

Fite Fighting Equipment and the 
©)|| progressive developement which has 
>\\@aken place m the course of a few years 


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OW Qa 2ng O07 AMACHITER vr Ola Style eCQuipme 
past in “Houston Almost a Ching of the past in Toes 





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The Fire Department 


Allie Anderson, 

Fire Commissioner. 
O DEPARTMENT of the City has had a greater development in recent years than 
has the fire department. Houston today has a fire department of which every citi- 
zen may justly feel proud. 





Grterelize, 
Fire Chief. 


A comparison of the department of. ten years ago with the department as it exists 
today will give some idea of the present organization. In 1913 there were 105. men in 
the service, while now there are 238 men in this department. 


In 1924 the department answered 2,023 alarms while ten years ago it answered only 
771 alarms. Ten years ago there were only ten fire stations, while now there are sixteen. 

The annual fire losses in 1913 were $285,183.00, while: last year they were $1,600,000.00. 

In 1911 there was no motor driven equipment in the department, while now the entire 
equipment of the department is motorized. 


The annual budget for the year 1911 was $125,000.00, while the annual budget for 
1924 was $406,792.68. 


The entire department, with four exceptions is under civil service regulations, and 
only the highest class of men are selected for service. In addition the Civil Service reg- 
ulations extend discipline in the department and general efficiency is greatly advanced by 
this wholesome influence.. 


wor 
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+o 1 EE NF HH A fH A Bf ff HH a HH 11 —— HH Hh Hh HH IRD 9 


The department is composed of the following: the fire commissioner, who is the 
executive head; the fire chief, who is the active head; three assistant chiefs; thirty-two 
captains; fifty-three chauffeurs; one hundred and thirty-six firemen; one chief clerk of 
the department, and six miscellaneous employees. 


The double platoon system has been established under the present fire commission. 
Formerly firemen were on duty for 24 hours at a stretch—now they work 10 hours and 
are off duty 14 hours one month and the order is reversed the next month. The double 
platoon system has greatly added to the efficiency of the department, and has made the 
men much more contented with their work and enabled the standard of the personnel to 
be greatly raised. It allows the men to enjoy home life. It is being adopted by the 
progressive fire departments all over the country and indicates the determination of the 
Houston department to keep pace with the growth of other cities. 


The beautiful new down-town Central Fire station was completed under the present 
administration. It is one of the most modern and now one of the finest equipped fire 
stations in the country. An additional down town fire station and two new ward sta- 
tions will be erected during the year 1925. 


The department also occupied No. 15 fire station at Preston avenue and Hooker 
street during the year 1923. It has also occupied during 1924 the new station at West- 
heimer and Yupon Streets. These two stations were badly needed to give the best of fire 
protection to these respective sections of the city and have been equipped with the most 
modern fire fighting apparatus... ; 


The department now has 35 pieces of motor driven equipment in service, of which 
six steamers are held in reserve. During the present year it is the plan and hopes of the 
Commissioner to add its greatest piece of equipment, a fire boat.on the ship channel, to 
give protection to the millions of dollars invested there. This purchase will be by 
cooperation between the city, the navigation district and the County of Harris. And bids 
for same were advertised during the first part of 1925. 


Some new equipment has been added to the department the past year, but constant 
additions are required in order to keep pace with the tremendous growth of the city. 

The fire department in recent months has assigned 150 firemen to the work of making 
a thorough inspection of all fire hazards in the city. This was occasioned by a wave 
of fires that swept the city in the early part of 1924. 


It is the aim of the Fire Commissioner to create as soon as practicable a division 
of the department to be known as the fire prevention division. He believes this work in 
the department is even more important than the fire extinguishing division and its or- 
ganization heretofore has only been. delayed by a lack of sufficient number of men. 


A division of the fire department known as the fire marshal’s office, now does much 
work along this line. The fire marshal does inspection work, and investigates in order 
to eliminate where possible fire hazards and determine as nearly as possible the origin 
of fires. 


Fire prevention day has become a regular institution in Houston and school children 
are given instruction on the prevention of fires and a special effort is made to induce all 
residents and business firms to remove as far as possible all fire hazards. 


34 


I te mm aT a Nh NB NN A HH — Eh HL HH Nh BN HN We>*« 


Houston’s good fire record credit for 1923 was 12%, which is one of the best in the 
state, and has been gradually increased by the small percentage of fire losses in compari- 
son with the insurance in effect and the vast amount of property involved. 


The Houston fire department, with its 238 attaches and its 16 stations, is doing a 
wonderful work to save property and lives in Houston. -During the year there has been 
some loss of life, both of citizens and brave firemen, who died in the discharge of their 
duty. But the department has saved many lives and it can proudly point to the fact that 
during the entire year not a single fire spread beyond the immediate building where it 
started. Several fires have been of sucha nature that no amount of efficiency on the part 
of a department could have prevented some loss of life, or could have saved the buildings 
where the fire started, but they were also in sections of the city where if it had not 
been for a highly efficient department, the city would undoubtedly have suffered from some 
great conflagrations. 


Houston citizens generally appreciate the fact that the firemen encounter many dan- 
gers in the discharge of their duties. In response to every alarm, their lives are in dan- 
ger and they are subject to many hazards. In fulfillmg their duties they render a faithful 
service, braving the elements and unflinchingly performing their assignments in a cour- 


ageous and highly efficient manner. Line ies 


One of the most serious problems that has lately confronted the department is that 
of getting through traffic. In the old days of horsedrawn equipment, when there were 
few private motor cars, the dangers of making runs to fires were comparatively slight, 
but during the year several firemen have been injured on the way to fires. How to lessen 
this danger and still maintain the speed with which the department reaches fires is one 
of the problems that is perplexing the department. 


The Fire Commissioner recently appointed a Fire Safety Committee, composed of 
twelve citizens whose duty will be to attend ali fires and to assist in handling the traffic 
problem at fires. 


The Fire Commissioner has sent out appeals to the public to not crowd the high- 
ways in the vicinity of fires and to always be on the alert to give fire equipment the right 
of way and there are indications the public is anxious to respond to this appeal. 


The Houston Fire Department with efficiency a keynote and harmony a paramount 
factor, is a department of merit and serves the citizens faithfully, protecting their lives 
and their property. 


qi 
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Electrical PumpingPlan 


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Outside of SouttSidePn 
ping Plant showing pum 


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[Exterior view of Centia 
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driven oll for fuel 


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Interior view of JoutaSide 
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ore |i EE HN 1 Hh HN he He IR 9 9 


The Water Department 


Jas. H. B. House, 
Water Commissioner. 
HERE is probabiy no municipal department of greater and more vital importance, 
als or more necessary in the daily pursuits of life, of the citizens, than the Water Depart- 
ment. The public health depends largely upon pure water and Houston is partic- 
ularly fortunate in possessing an abundant water supply originating from 45 artesian wells 
of an average depth of 1200 feet, and a well organized and highly efficient department. 


The analysis of Houston’s water is as follows: 
Parts per Million 


ei DEE a i HASSE A Ue are 0 ane Hen 17.20 
‘Carchyl Sheva hatha tvepnch phe! ms SOR SIP ake, pe pele Oe amen ee 0.70 
PETA tat DOLAt ae, ee ens ih nlia Abbe Veda) «acdc 117.00 
DiAoweslstile DICATDODatCreaes oy tans cats cece ke 39.80 
SSORItiitiey OTGAT DONATO eee heme ete eas Gx: orcs 203.00 
SOCIUI Pot PALE er ost par Meta Ate nate a- so! 3S ok one 39.60 
POUAiTne: HLOT ewer oleae Aeon yes ie rs tes, 65.80 
Volatile and Organic Matter ...... EE ge 113.19 


During 1924 with over 200 miles of water mains, extending in every direction over a 
great area within the limits of the City, and five pumping plants of large capacity, 
5,470,890,890 gallons of Houston’s invigorating artesian water surged forth for the con- 
stant use of the people, and increase of 514,455,960 gallons over the year 1923. The 
total daily average pumpage for the year 1924 was 15,000,000 gallons, an increase in the 
daily pumpage over 1923 of 1,500,000 gallons. 


For the year 1924 the earnings of the Department amounted to $523,103.12, an in- 
crease of $56,981.62 over the previous year, while the total expenses covering operations and 
maintenance for 1924 were $210,780.00. The 1925 appropriation of the Water Depart- 
ment is $349,800. 


The Department has a valuation of $2,500,000. 


The Water Department is headed by the Water Commissioner, clected by the people. 
and the departmental organization consists of 66 employees of which number 10 comprise 
the entire office force, 22 are in the operating, engineering and pumping plant service, 
while the remainder occupy placements in the skilled and day labor service. Included 
among the total number of employees are 3 meter readers and 3 helpers, whose duties 
involve continuous attention to the 25,595 water meters in use. 


The department maintains a completely stocked store room where parts and equipment 
and replacement materials are received and issued and service connections repaired. 

During the year several miles of new mains were constructed. The extensions that 
were made have strengthened the system, in many instances eliminating dead end lines, 
and giving fire protection to many. 


The department is proud of the fact that during the year 1924 the pumpage increased 
over a million and a half gallons per day, with only two additional wells, over that of 


59 


+o ill S10 (RD +» 


1923. These wells were drilled at the Central Plant and put into operation the first part 
of 1923. The largest daily pumpage in the history of Houston was on August 25th, 
1924, 18,734,130 gallons. During the dry summer months when domestic consumption 
is at its height it must be remembered that there must be sufficient water to maintain the 
proper pressure and volume of water for fire purposes. 


There will be greater demand in 1925 for water than there was in 1924, and arrange- 
ments have practically been made to establish a modern new pumping plant and to drill 
additional wells. . 


Central Plant 


This plant, the parent and oldest of the pumping units of the Department, is termed 
the reserve plant and is prepared at all times to reinforce the City’s water supply in the 
event of a breakdown at one or all of the electrically driven plants. This is the most 
important unit of the water works system, and this unit is rendering a most satisfactory. 
service, both as to production and operating cost. During 1924 two new wells were com- 
pleted at the plant increasing its supply 3,000 gallons per minute. 


South Side Plant 


This is the most important electrically operated unit of the water works system and 
this unit is rendering a most satisfactory service both as to production and operating 
cost. 


West End Plant 


This unit continues to produce very satisfactorily and the water supply produced by 
two wells at the present time 1s ample for the requirements of the plant. 


North Side Plant 


This unit is operating smoothly and with the completion of new wells the water sup- 
ply at this point will be adequate for immediate requirements. All of the plants operate 
24 hours a day. 


As the years pass not only the mains, service pipe and fire plugs need more attention 
but the Department grows and naturally more money is required for maintenance and op- 
eration. The meters and fire plugs have been standardized in order, that it will not be 
necessary to carry sO many repair parts tor so many different makes of meters and fire 
plugs. Many private lines and service pipes are too small for the number of houses 
served. It is now the rule of this departiment when a tap is made for a private line, 
to ascertain how many houses are to be served and try to determine positively that the 
line is not too small for the supply. 


A fundamental policy of the present administration of the Water Department is that 
the Department should not be operated with a view of making a large profit, and that 
any earnings accrued from the departmental activities should be returned to the people 
in the form of extensions and general improvements. 


There are many expenditures necessary in the varied and extensive functioning of 
this department and many expenses must be incurred upon which there are no direct re- 
turns. 


60 


+o chill 11H A NN NN NN Nh A YN I 
1 


The City’s extensive paving activities necessitating the renewal of services, moving 
fire plugs, lowering and recorking mains, require expenditures of large amounts of 
money. The deterioration of mains, which increases with age, results in a yearly in- 
crease in the number of leaks and it is necessary for the department to repair same. In 
many cases where leaks occur under a paved street, it is necessary for the department to 
incur the expense of replacing the pavement after repairing leaks. 

Another fact to be considered is the tremendous volume of free water furnished by 
this department to the City’s schools, charitable institutions and the various municipal 
departments. 

A well balanced and constructive program of expansion has been outlined for the year 
1925 and development covering many of the projects is now under way. 

The Water Department is keeping in line with progressive Houston and is render- 
ing a service of merit to the citizens. 






























































61 








e +c HN Nm He me Nm HN Hm Hm Fm BH Hm AHF mm Nf HY HH HN ff HH HL Hi —— HHI 0 


The Street and Bridge Department 


Ben S. Davison, 
Street and Bridge Commissioner. 


OUSTON’S STREET AND-BRIDGE DEPARTMENT is one of the most im- 
portant departments of the City Government. 


This Department has in charge the upkeep and cleaning of all streets within 
the limits of the City with the exception of repairs on asphaltic surface streets which are 
done by contract. It also has the task of keeping open the ditches for surface drainage 
thruout the City and because of the flat topography of the City this is a big undertak- 
ing in itself, | 


During the last three years great changes have been made in the methods of street 
cleaning in this department. In 1923 and 1924 the department installed several of the 
latest types of street cleaning equipment, and the work of improving the equipment in 
the department has gone steadily forward since that time. As a result, the taxpayers 
have been saved thousands of dollars annually. . 


The old method consisted of two trucks drawing the sweeper brooms and 3-mule 
drawn sweepers, preceded by a water wagon and operating during the night, and four- 
mule drawn day sweeper sprinklers. 


These sweepers lodged their sweepings into the gutters of the streets, and the refuse 
was picked up the next morning by two wagon fleets and. their crews, comprising 20 men 
and 18 mules. This method was very expensive and inadequate as well as unsanitary. 


Under this method the cost was 28 cents per 1000 square yards to clean paved 
streets. By use of the motor pick-up sweepers this cost has been reduced one-half. In 
addition to the pick-up sweepers great improvements have been made in types of equip- 
ment used in other lines of work. 


Five modern Quicklift graders are now a part of the Department’s equipment and 
a great saving has been made by these machines. During the year two new Austin 
Graders were added to the equipment for use in crown grading. 


The Street and Bridge Department consists of the Street and Bridge Commissioner, 
elected by the people, a chief clerk, three department clerks, three division superintend- 
ents, and one hundred and seventy men, including the foremen. 


The Department is divided into three divisions and each division covers a designated 
territory, operating from centrally located stables. These stables are conveniently arranged 
and provide quarters for the fifty teams which the department uses in its work. The 
stables maintain their own blacksmith shops, and in this way the road equipment re- 
ceives immediate attention whenever necessary, resulting in very little delay in the re- 
pairing of the equipment from time to time. ; 


Each of the divisions has a scarafier, with six men, a foreman, and four teams and 
also a ditching gang and two grading gangs. 


64 


LE TT HH HL I 1 HN [WR Dee 


The Department maintains a paving gang, consisting of seven men, a foreman and 
team. The duties of this gang are to keep the brick and wood block paving in repair, 
and to attend to culvert repair work. There is also a bridge division operating under each 
_ of the three division Superintendents with a crew of four men and a truck. 


The Street and Bridge Department had a budget last year of $400,000, of which it 
spent $399,730.00. 


During the last year the department added equipment valued at $10,856. This in- 
cludes one modern improved Austin gas street sweeper, which cost $6500. 


During the year the department purchased a total of 538 car loads of gravel. Dur- 
ing the same period it used 171 car loads of shell and 2247 yards of granite gravel. 
During the year the Department purchased a total of 853,130 ft. of lumber, which was 
used in the construction of 1180 new bridges, the repairing of 971 old bridges, 1010 new 
crossings and 159 repaired crossings, which record has never been surpassed in previous 
years. 


The policy of this Administration is to effect economies wherever possible in this 
Department. For instance it has been found that wooden culverts quickly depreciate be- 
cause the sills underneath rot out making it necessary to completely wreck them. It is 
found by making these sills of creosoted wood they last almost indefinitely and new floors 
may be placed on as needed, at a tremendous saving in money and labor. 


The Department has over 100 miles of paved streets to keep clean and this is con- 
stantly being added to, taxing the resources of the Department. Plans are being made 
to greatly add to the present equipment during the year. In fact, two new modern pick- 
up sweepers of the latest design have been purchased by the City for this work. 


The Street and Bridge Department is making great strides toward bettering the 
streets and roadways and keeping them smoothly surfaced, while the permanent. sur- 
faced thoroughfares are being kept perfectly clean at all times. 


65 


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The Legal Department 


OUSTON’S LEGAL DEPARTMENT, with its many responsibilities is a branch 
H.:: the City Government of great importance, and faithfully performs its functions 

in a most creditable manner. The present administration has completely — re-or- 
ganized and perfected this department, and the legal organization now consists of the 
City Attorney, one Assistant City Attorney in charge of the Legal Department at - the 
City Hall; one Assistant City Attorney, who renders service as prosecutor in the Cor- 
poration Court, one legal stenographer. 





Ct hi 


Sewall Myer, 
City Attorney. 


~ During 1924 the work of this Department has been varied and extensive. The de- 
partment has written scores of public improvement contracts, each of which necessitated 
the preparation of several bonds; has prepared a large number of general contracts, 
‘many deeds, leases, releases; and in short, has prepared all legal documents and papers 
pertaining to the City. 


Itemizing to some extent the amount of work accomplished by this department dur- 
ing the past year, it has in addition to prosecuting the several thousand criminal cases 
in the Corporation Court and advising the Police Department on all mattets pertaining 


69 


© A HH 1 NN NN HN NH HI 


thereto and which may arise therein, handling all cases before the Civil Service Com- 
mission and advising the Fire Commissioner and Fire Marshal in eliminating and pre- 
venting fire hazards, all of which this office keeps no record. The records show that it 


has prepared: 


Improvement,-Contracts:) Sc5% -s28 cys: ieas ei ne ee cee 328 
Miscellaneous contracts, agreements, releases, leases, etc. ........... 97 
Deeds ite neh bo obec Babel hee 50 caddie fe oie ein eae ta ae 300 
Construction bonds i). fan. wap als, ack dc Gag OAS gay rea ae et Ce 328 
Maintenance . bonds. &..!G5289 <. oly OF et cee eee eer eae ee 324 
Miscellaneous.» bonds: ties BP... avce etoue be deep ee ee eae 15 


It has prepared approximately 1375 ordinances, 


It has prepared approximately 750 resolutions. 


The department rendered 308 legal opinions during 1924 to the Mayor and City 
Council and various department heads. 


Taking all of the above documents, contracts, deeds, bonds, ordinances, opinions, 
etc., we have a total of 3517 legal documents. 


In addition to the above it has handled practically all bond matters for the City 
of Houston, prepared all proceedings leading to the issuance of the bonds, prepared bond 
records, secured the approvat of the Attorney General, etc. It has handled and presented 
to the Attorney General of Texas, with success about 25 separate issues of city bonds, 
aggregating several million dollars. 


In addition it has examined and approved as to form approximately 1575 plumber’s, 
electrician’s, etc. bonds, since it examines and approves all the permit bonds. 


It has conduced all hearings before the Civil Service Commission, and practically 
all paving hearings before the City Council. 


In addition to all of which this department has handled without outside help and at 
no additional expense to the City a great number of cases in all of the courts extending 
from the Justice Court to the Supreme Court of Texas, and the United States Federal 
Court, and has been unusually successful in the results obtained therein. 


With the rapid expansion of the city and its great growth the necessity of opening 
new streets and widening older ones has caused the Legal Department to be called upon 
to do a great deal of work in the filing and prosecution of condemnation proceedings. 


All the duties incumbent on an office lawyer are placed upon the Legal Department 
of the City. All construction contracts and contracts of every nature in which the City 
of Houston is involved, are prepared by this department, as are all ordinances and 
resolutions for the City Council. With the widening, extension and opening of streets, 
and with the extension of the Park Department the City purchases a great deal of land, 
and the examination of abstracts and rendering opinions on titles consumes no inconsider- 
able amount of time. 

Some of the other duties of the Department are the examination of abstracts, the 
preparation of all the ordinances, resolutions, motions, and reports. The members of the 


70 


© I NN Nh LN Nl i — Wi —— ny «+ 


Legal Department aiso act as legal advisors to all the city officials in their official 
capacity. 

The City Council refers all claims asserted against the City to the Legal Department 
for an opinion and report, and also refers all matters in which any question of a legal 
nature is in anywise involved. This department conducts the paving hearings before the 
City Council, prepares all the franchises granted by the City to public service corpora- 
tions, railways corporations and individuals, approves all bonds of any nature executed 
to the City, and handles all litigation in: which the City is a party, plaintiff or defendant. 


The court work involves the preparation and trial of cases in the United States 
Courts, State District Courts, County Courts and Justice Courts, and in all the appellate 
courts. The litigation of late has been heavy and has involved a number of important 
cases. Nevertheless, this department has been uniformly successful in winning every 
case for the City, both in the trial and appellate courts. 


. The Legal Department also has charge of the prosecution in the Corporation Court 
of all cases filed therein, and has been very successful in the matter of conviction and col- 
lection of fines. 


In addition to all of the duties above mentioned the Legal Department prepares the 
election proceedings, and conducts a heavy genera! correspondence thruout the State and 
Nation. 


The duties of the Legal Department involve a vast and comprehensive amount of in- 
dividual and co-ordinated effort. 





td 


Sore est pr oe4 
other st2/) onners IR 
ey, Markeet 





re 1] 11 LN i tH I 


The Managers Department 


HE position of City Manager was created by the present Administration April 18, 
1921, in order to relieve the Mayor of a large amount of detail work, and coming 
under the supervision of the Manager are the Purchasing Department, Municipal 

Store, City Auditorium, City Market, City Garage, and the Censor Board. 





Claude E. Belk, 
City Manager. 


While the creation of the position was an experiment, the first year of operation of 
the combined departments under the Manager clearly demonstrated that a great deal of 
money can be saved the tax-payers by the operation of all of these departments under 
one head and that all of the departments can be operated more successfully and efficient- 
ly under the direction of one man, whose experience and training have been along  busi- 


73 


8 I HH HH Hl LL I LK KH | | Hh | | ||| HH A IRD o~ 


ness lines and who possesses the varied qualifications necessary in order to justify ap- 
pointment to the post of City Manager of Houston. 


In addition to the extensive duties of the Manager as the active and directing head 
of several of the City Departments, this executive performs many other duties. 


The Manager is continually in consultation with the City Commissioners regarding 
matters coming before the City Council and recommendations covering business policies 
are presented by him with each issue as it arises. 


The Manager is the representative of the Mayor in practically all matters of a busi- 
ness nature arising in the various City Departments. 


The order purchases for all departments in 1924 amounted to $705,306.76 were made 
at an expense of $11,248.51. The above figures include the purchases of the Municipal 
Store, which were made by the Manager of that department under the supervision of the 
City Manager. 

The Purchasing Department in 1924 saved the sum of $5,000 in cash discounts by the 
cooperation of the Controller's Department in the payment of all bills within the ten-day 
period. All purchases for the City were made on competitive bids, or competitive prices, 
quoted at the time of purchase. 


The Municipal Store was opened for the purpose of regulating prices in the City 
Market, and it has served its purpose well. It is operated in a manner to be in fair 
competition with all merchants and, therefore, the City’s prices are usually the price that 
governs the sale of the same commodities in the entire market. A stock worth about 
$6,000 to $10,000 is kept.on hand and au inventory each month shows the turnover, 
profits and expenses. . 


To date, the store’s profits are within a few hundred dollars of the cost of operation 
since its organization. That the municipal institution is popular is indicated by the num- 
ber of customers. On week days, between 800 and 1,000 persons call in the store, most of 
them make several purchases, while every Saturday, the crowd numbers between 2500 and 
3000 persons. 


There are at this time 69 tenants in the City Market. The market has been operated 
at an expense of $36,405.26 and has produced a revenue of $50,992.80, making a net profit 
of $14,587.54. 

The Auditorium was operated in 1924 at an expense of $17,612.98, not including in- 
terest on the investment. There were 251 engagements, with a total attendance of 337,-— 
803 during the year. 

The City Garage was established by the present administration in order to accom- 
plish two main purposes; first, to save money on all motor repair work on the City’s 
automobiles, and second to keep these automobiles in perfect mechanical condition at 
all times, enabling them to be used in active service on all occasions arising in the City’s 
business. The operation of the City Garage also enables the City’s automobiles to re- 
ceive immediate attention when needing repairs and thereby saving the usual delay in- 
cident to motor repair work in outside garages. In addition, the general wear and tear 
on the City’s automobiles is much less for the reason that the machines are always well 
oiled, greased, watered, and are in good mechanical order before being used. 


74 


ool TE Hh LL ef | | || ff | Hf 9 Ht HH Hf ft 1 — HH ee 1 HIRD . 


An appreciable saving to the taxpayers is being made by the operation of this 
garage, not only from the actual saving on labor in repair work, but also from a saving 
on parts necessary in repairing the motor equipment, as the City Garage receives the low- 
est trade discount on all purchases necessary in its operation, the same discount allowed 
other garages but not allowed firms and corporations. 


At the present time 100 of the City’s automobiles are being cared for by the garage, 
which taxes its present capacity at this time, but increased facilities will be provided for 
in the near future, which will extend its limitations and enable it to perform a greater 
service to the City. 


The Censor Board has under its direct supervision and control the amusement life 
of the City, and is held responsible at all times for the moral tone of the City’s amuse- 
ments. 


The Board is composed of 12 members, including a chairman and secretary, all serv- 
ing without compensation, except the secretary, who receives a salary. 


To properly function, the work of-this Department not only requires much time of 
its members, but also forethought and understanding, serious and appreciative, with a 
conscious sense of good feeling toward entertainments and amusements, accepting as a 
truth that wholesome recreation and amusement is one of the vital necessities of life, es- 
sential to happiness and sane living, and now recognized as one of the most influential 
and popular assets of any community life. 

The City Ordinance regulating all public amusements provides that all entertain- 
ments of any kind given within the City limits must be clean, moral and decent, must not 
be contrary to good morals and public decorum, and must not be calculated to promote or 
encourage racial, sectional or religious prejtfdice. 

Public amusements consist of Moving Picture shows, Theatres, Skating Rinks, 
Natatoriums or Swimming Pools, Amusement Parks, etc., all of which come under the 
jurisdiction of the Houston Censor Board. The managers of all such amusements are re- 
quired by the City Ordinance to conduct their places in strict accordance with the laws 
of the State and the City Censor Ordinance regulating same. 

There are 34 theatres in Houston, including Moving Picture shows, Stock Com- 
panies, Vaudeville and legitimate Drama. ‘The secretary of the Censor Board has issued 
to the above theatres 13,054 permits, including 691 permits granted to miscellaneous eil- 
tertainments. 

The members of the Censor Board are keenly interested in their duties and are con- 
scious of the responsibility involved in their service to the City. 

Out of 40 employees in the City Manager’s Department, four occupy places in the 
Purchasing Division, 3 in the Municipal Store, 14 at the City Hall and Market as jani- 
tors and market watchmen, eight form the City Auditorium working staff, four are in 
the mechanical service at the City Garage and five have miscellaneous duties as depart- 
mental attaches. 

When a City approaches the quarter million population mark, as in Houston today, 
the administration of public affairs requires more business acumen. 


73 


hm i mh hh Hh hh hh hh ih W>e- 


At the start of 1925 Houston completed its fourth year with a City Manager. The 
beneficial effects and successful results of the Manager plan are beyond question. Many 
cities throughout the nation are operating with increased business efficiency and economy 


due to the induction of this new system in the modern activities of good municipal gov- 
ernment. 


The City Manager of Houston is rendering a valuable service to the taxpayers and 


his business principles and energetic endeavors extend a wholesome influence over the 
entire City organization. 


70 


el 1 1 Le e 0 e Hh —— HH eH HH me Hh ID 


The. Controllers Department 


HE CITY CONTROLLER, elected ty the people, is the active and directing head 
of this important department, while five bookkeepers and accountants efficiently 


handle the large amount of work devolving upon the department. 


The Controller’s department might be termed the watch dog of the City Treasury 
and absolute accuracy and efficiency are the department’s watchwords, for no public 


funds can be paid out for any cause until this department has passed approval. Its juris- 
diction in fiscal matters extends over every city department. 





Harry A, Giles, 
City Controller. 


The varied duties of the Controller are specifically prescribed by the City Charter, 
the most important being covered by section 2 as follows: 


“Tt shall be the duty of the Controller to superintend and supervise the fiscal affairs 
of the City of Houston, and to manage and conduct the same as prescribed by this Char- 
ter and the ordinances of the City of Houston that are now or may be hereafter enacted, 
and said Controller shall prepare and publish in some newspaper in the City of Houston, 


77 


re ll 1 A NZ HI 8 


not later than the 5th day of each month, a statement of the preceding month’s expenses, 
which statement shall show the total amount paid in monthly salaries to all employees 
in each department of the city, and shall also show the amount paid on the weekly pay- 
roll to all persons working for the city by the day or week, and shall also show the cost 
of maintaining each department of the city government, and the total amount of each 
month’s expenses so incurred; said statement shall also show the cost of improvement 
and extension work not properly classed as current expenses and not done under con- 
tract with outside parties, and shall show all other extraordinary expenditures, for inter- 
est on bonds, payments on bonds, etc., which statement shall be signed and sworn to by 
said Controller, and he shall permit any qualified elector at all reasonable hours to ex- 
amine or inspect the books of the city, furnishing such party all reasonable, assistance 
therein, and the Council shall pass suitable ordinances to enforce this section and provide 
suitable penalties. 


“Tt shall be the duty of the Controller to keep books of account of the City of Hous-. 
ton, and to make such financial reports and statements as are provided by the terms of 
this act. His books of account shall exhibit accurate and detailed statements of all 
moneys received and expended for account of the city by all city officials and other per- 
sons, and shall show in detail the property owned by the city and the income derived 
therefrom. 


“He shall also keep separate accounts of each and every appropriation made by the 
City Council, showing the date thereof and the purpose for which the same is made, and 
shall show for what each payment of any public money is made and the manner of mak- 
ing the same and to whom same is made. 


“He shall keep a separate account with each department of the city government, 
and also such other accounts as may be necessary to show a complete financial statement 
of the city, and he shall be prepared at every regular meeting of the City Council to 
give such information concerning the finances of the City as the Council may require. 


“All warrants or orders for payment of any public fund or moneys for any pur- 
pose shall be signed by the Controller and the Mayor. No warrant not signed by the 
Controller shall be authority for the payment of any public funds whatever, but the Con- 
troller shall in no instance, unless the money is in the treasury and in the fund against 
which it is drawn, sign any warrant or order for the payment of any sum or amount for 
any purpose; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the issue and 
sale of warrants to anticipate the current revenue for any one year, which said warrants 
shall bear such rate of interest, not exceeding five per cent as the City Council by ordi- 
nance may prescribe. 

“He shall not sign any contract nor make or execute any warrant or order for the 
payment of any sum of money, unless the same be legal and all prerequisites and re- 
quirements shall have been complied with, nor until after an appropriation has been duly 
and legally made therefor. 

“He shall, whenever deemed necessary, require all accounts presented to him for 
settlement or payment to be certified by affidavit, and he is hereby authorized to ad- 
minister oaths, with authority to compel and require persons to answer such questions 
as may be propounded to them touching th» correctness of any account or claim against 


7s 


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the city. He shall require all persons who shall have received any moneys belonging to 
the city, and not having accounted therefor, to settle their accounts, and it is hereby 
made his duty from time to time to require all persons receiving moneys, or having the 
disposition or management of any property of the city of which an account is kept in 
his office, to render statements thereof to him; provided that no warrant or order sha/l 
ever be issued in favor of any person or corporation, or to the assignee or agent of any 
person indebted in any manner for taxes or otherWise to the city, unless such debt so 
due and owing to the city be paid. 


No disbursing officer of the city, nor any one having money in his possession for 
the account of the city, shall pay the same to any person or persons for the account of 
the city, except to the regularly designated officer or custodian of the public funds for 
the city, except upon draft or warrant countersigned by the Controller of the City of 
Houston, and signed by the Mayor; and the Controller shall not countersign any such 
draft or warrant until he has audited and examined the claim and found the same justly 
and legally due and payable, and that the payment has been legally authorized, and ap- 
propriation therefor made, and that the appropriation has not been exhausted. 


“The City Controller shall, on or befor: the fifteenth day of March in each year, | 
prepare and transmit to the City Council a report of the financial transactions of the city 
during fiscal year ending the last day of February next preceding, and of its financial 
condition on the said last named day in February. The report shall contain an accurate 
statement in summarized form and also in datail of the financial receipts of the city from 
all sources and the expenditures of the city for all purposes, together with a detailed 
statement of the debt of said city, and the purposes for which said debt was incurred, 
and of the property of said city, and of the accounts of the city with the grantees of fran- 
chises. 


“In addition to the annual statement herein required and of the reports which may 
be demanded by the council at any time, it is especially made the duty of the Controller 
to be able to show at any time, and certainly upon or immediately after the first of each 
month, a comprehensive and accurate statement of the financial affairs of the City of 
Houston, and if any officer of any department or any employee of the City shall fail to 
make such stated or stipulated reports as and at the times required either by the Mayor 
or the City Council, it shall be the duty of the Controller to report such delinquency or 
failure to the Mayor, and further to state at any time any carelessness or negligence of 
any officer or employee in the making or stating of reports cov Due any matter within 
the range of the duty of said officer or employee.” 


79 








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The Police Departm ent 


HE problem of policing a great city such as Houston, is always a difficult one. 
Houston is a great railroad center. It is the heart of a great oil section of the 
United States. It is the metropolis of an immense section, to which crime natur- 

ally gravitates. In addition to this the problem of policing cities has been made more com- 
plex in recent years by the tremendous growth of traffic, the handling of which naturally 
consumes much of the thought and energy of the Police Department. 


But despite this fact Houston is more free of crime and vice now than ever before 
in its history and will compare favorably in this respect with any city of similar size 





T. C. Goodson, 
Superintendent of Police. 


in the country. This is largely due to the aggressive attitude of the Police, to high stand- 
ards that have been set for the personnel of its membership and to insistence on strict 


discipline and no tolerance of winking at law violations by any member of the Depart- 
Db 7 - 
ment. 


The traffic squad is one of the prides of the Department, and during the last 
year has constantly been brought up to higher standards. There is a great con- 
trast, constantly commented on by citizens, between the efficient way in which traffic 
is handled now in the congested business district, by the aid of signal lights, and the 
way it was handled just a few years ago. 


During the last year the Department embraced 228 men. Of these 40 were in the 
traffic squad, 156 were other uniformed policemen and there were 32 men in the Detec- 
tive Division. 


83 


re 1 HN NN NL I NN ZL TA HH AR 


The total arrests made for 1924 were 14,497, not including arrests for violation of 
various traffic ordinances numbering 36,595, making a total of 51,092 arrests for the 
year. A comparison of the number of arrests for the last ten years, together with the 
total revenues from fines, shows the remarkable growth of the Department, which is in 
keeping with the great growth of the City. It is: . 


COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF ARRESTS AND FEES COLLECTED 
FOR THE YEARS 1914 TO 1924 


Year Arrests Stock Inspt. Fines Paid Pound Fees Dog Tax 
1914 9.411 1,634 $17,867.65 $2,038.95 $ 568.00 
1915 -8)340 1,452 15,983.90 161515 676.00 
1916) 410,212 1,480 20,398.55 1,567.10 574.00 
19170105 1,708 21,430.95 1,813.50 832.00 
. 1918 11,345 L779 27,659.50 2,761.00 1,318.00 


LOO sel 2 4 15759 56,032.50 3,639.78 1,756.00 
1OZ0 Sat 2,684 69,828.00 3,929.80 1,948.60 
192152803 159. 2,296 55,062.00 4,000.45 2,854.00 
19226) 16/144 2,181 50,073.00 4,499.25 996.00 
1923 23,451 3,483 74,118.50 4,311.82 2,438.00 
1924 51,092 2,547 77,933.00 3,343.20 1,592.00 


In addition to making 51,092 arrests in the Police Department during the year 
1924, this Department answered approximately 480 telephone calls per hour for twenty-four 
hours each day, or a total of 175,000 during the year, and handled approximately 30,000 
written reports, covering daily casualties such as automobile accidents, deaths, suicides, 
descriptions of stolen property, general Police investigations, dog calls, stock calls and 
general inquiries along all lines of Police work. 


COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND OPERATING EX- 
PENSES FOR THE YEAR 1914 TO 1924, INCLUSIVE 


Year ; Revenue Operating Exp. 
DOTA Viet Sle <5 Soe es MRS ee $20,569.55 $186.060.00 
1913 SGN Doin ae eee ee 19,578.85 15293822 
1916 or Bree eS an aa 24,126.10 183,953.69 
LOTT So tls ls Weta ee eet 24,972.54 175,630.96 
LOLS ie eh cion rhe chee tn kee eee 33,016.55 191,764.33 
IGLOS Ae a re 62,610.63 208,261.41 
1 OZG Ssks Sin ne eee eGR eee 77 343.64 269,939.69 
AoA es eee a tree 54,858.90 304,349.31 
1922 eons eee he see ang: ERE) Cleon ty 362,161.56 
L923. gk 2 Rais eee Sie eee 81,964.77 383,805.32 
TODA See aceite Meee aaa 83,967.10 401,918.11 


It will be noted by above that the Revenué of the Police Department in 1914 was 
$20,569.55, while that of 1924 is $83,967.10, or an increase of over four times as much 
in 1924 as in 1914, a period of ten years. 


While the operating expenses in 1914 were $186,060.00, the operating expenses in 
1924, 10 years hence were $401,918.11, a little over double in a period of 10 years, which 


84 


“on TT le EE Tl | | | | | | | | | | HL | HE | | | Ff | | (niga e= 


shows that the department has actually done four times as much work in collecting 
Revenue and only a little more than doubled the operating expenses. 


It is interesting, to note that 10 years ago there were only 437 arrests for traffic vio- 
lations, while for 1924 they had increased to 36,595, comprising more than half the 
arrests made by the Department. 


The Police Department operated on $401,918.11 last year, while revenues from 
all sources amounted to $83,967.10, as against $81,964.77 the year before. 


Some general comparisons of the Department of today with the Department of 1914 
will help better to understand these figures. In 1914 the Department had 138 men, as 
against 228 today, an addition of 90 men. In 1914 the operating costs were $186,- 
060.00, while today they are $401,918.11. But in 1914 the total revenues were only $20,- 
569, while today they are $83,967.10. 


But these cold figures in no way tell the story of the growth of the Department. 
Civil Service has been inaugurated since 1914. The men worked 12 hours a day at that 
time, which has been cut to eight hours. It did not then have the splendid traffic squad 
that it has now, nor was traffic the problem then that it is now. The salaries of the men 
have been greatly increased since 1914, despite the shortening of hours. The men are 
better clothed and make in every way a better appearance. A model new Police Head- 
quarters, one of the most commodious, modern and handsome in the entire country, has 
been constructed and the Department moved into if the last year. There is an entirely 
different spirit prevailing the whole Department. 


During 1924 there were 805 stolen automobiles reported to the Police, and the auto- 
mobile squad, consisting of only two men, recovered 694 of these, which is a remarkable 
record. 

During the year the total value of all property lost and stolen and reported to the 
Detective Division was $573,868.78. Of this amount the Detective Division recovered 
$422,457.19, leaving a balance unrecovered of only $151,411.59. 


The Identification Bureau made 1752 identifications of persons by fingerprint 
methods during the year, and 7420 identifications by index cards on file. It has on 
file finger prints of 34,347 criminals and 53,044 index cards, and is one of the most use- 
ful adjuncts of the Department. 


The Vice squad, composed of one woman and two men, did much to keep down 
vice during the year. The squad made 185 raids and took into custody 838 persons. 
They made 120 arrests for violation of the liquor laws, and committed to jail 718 of- 
fenders charged with various offenses, including 69 shoplifters. 


The Juvenile Division, consisting of only two men, handled during the year 4,019 
cases of boys, of which 675 were adjusted without even. bringing the boys into court. 
This Division also takes care of lost and stolen bicycles and during 1924 delivered to 
owners 135 bicycles of the approximate value of $5,000.00. 


The Humane Division is in charge of a Sergeant. This Division handled 5,747 
animals in 1924 as against 3,803 in 1923. 


- oi 1 HH | Hl || | | | FH | Hl LL | | | | | HL ih Hh IRS we 


The Liquor and Gambling squad made 408 arrests for gambling, 119 arrests for 
violation of liquor and narcotic laws, and in addition 247 for violation of the National 
Prohibition Act. 


The Motorcycle Division is one that came near last year to paying all its salaries 
by collections of fines from. persons arrested by the squad. It is composed of a Sergeant 
and 16 men when at full strength. Last year fines from arrests amounted to $26,627.00, 
while total salaries of the men were only $23,078.10, leaving a balance of $3,548.90. 

The Department has its own garage and repair shop where more than a score of 
police cars are kept in perfect mechanical condition at all times. This shop is under the 
supervision of an efficient mechantcian and capable assistant. 


The Traffic Squad has become such a conspicuous and efficient part of the Depart- 
ment as to attract much favorable comment. The Traffic Squad was inaugurated on 
the 15th day of July 1921. On December 28, 1921, the first electric signal was in- 
stalled on Main Street and Preston Avenue, all semaphores being operated from that 
point. This proved successful and an electric control tower was erected at Main Street 
and Capitol Avenue, and put into operation immediately upon completion. This tower, 
with its connections traversing the principal business streets of Houston, handled about 
40,000 automobiles daily over Houston’s busy streets. This is the only traffic system in 
the United States operated by a master tower, and the Department receives requests 
every few weeks from other cities asking for information on Houston’s traffic system. 
Forty men handle the traffic at intersecting points. 


The following synopsis of results of ihe Police Department for 1924 as compared 
with 1923, furnishes some interesting comparative figures. 


1923 1924 Increase 

Fotal number Gi arrests evecare eee 2a ton 51,092 5,905 
Total valuation of lost and stolen 

property 0 oe. . cb eae © 433,023 2 8373, 865:/ 3) ae 
Total valuation of lost and stolen 

property = unrecovered sw ur ee eee $144,411.69 $151,411.59 $ 6,999.90 
Total valuation of stolen and 

lost): property arecovered 9... see $288,611.43 $422,457.19 $133,845.76 
Total number of Index cards on file 

in Identification’ Bureau ~, 2705.04. 45,624 53,044 7 420 


December 31st, 1923 

Total head of live stock impounded ..... 3,483 2,547 

Total fines paid in Corporation Court....$ 74,118.50 $ 77,933.00 $ 3,814.50 
Total cost of operating Police Dept. 1923 $383, 805. 32 $401,918.11 $ 18,112.79 


Total upkeep of 14 automobiles against 
24," 2-months, 1023.4 eee ae $ 18,656.97 $ 17,390.80 


Total Revenue of Police Department ....$ 81,964.77 $ 83,967.10 $ 2,002.33 


In 1923 there were additional 23,136 traffic arrests of which in 1924 are included in 
the total of 51,092. This makes the actual increase in 1924, 5,505. 


The Houston Police Department is well organized, vigilant and efficient and has a 
high standing among the metropolitan Police Departments of the United States. 


36 


A, CHORD; 
Chairman 


JAS. H. B. HOUSE, 5 eT : 4 GEO. E. WOODS, 
Commissioner . oe. oc Soup ae cote : Commissioner 


NORMAN H. BEARD, 
Director 








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The Civil Service Commussion 


held in 1913 and today the employees of practically all of the departments of the 
City Government are working under this system. 


(Or SERVICE was adopted by a vote of the people in Houston at an election 


A charter amendment creates a Civil Service Commission, outlines the duties of 
that body and prescribes the fundamental activities of the system. 


Since its inauguration Civil Service has proven entirely satisfactory and has result- 
ed in a higher and better type of employees for the City. This result is due, first, to the 
rigid entrance requirements and second, to the practical certainty that ability and 
faithful performance of duties will guarantee continued employment and eventually pro- 
motion. 

At the close of 1924 the records of the Commission showed a total of 1350 em- 
ployees in the City’s service, of which 850 were under Civil Service regulations; all em- 
ployees being subject to Civil Service rules with the exception of the department heads, 
their chief clerks, and employees in the day labor service—these being exempted by pro- 
visions in the City Charter. 


There is a complete card index record of each of these employees in the office of the 
Commission, and this record is kept up from day to day. Change of status of an employee, 
change in salary, leave of absence, transfer, suspension, and such other information 
necessary to make a complete record as listed from time to time. 


One of the most important duties of the Commission is the holding of competitive 
entrance examinations from time to time for the purpose of selecting from applicants 
those best equipped to perform, in an efficient manner, the work in various departments 
of the City Government. These examinations include physical and educational tests and 
investigations as to moral character and previous experience. 


Only those applicants whose moral character and physical condition are found to be 
Satisfactory are permitted to take further examinations. Those applicants who success- 
fully pass the examinations are placed on eligible lists, and when the heads of departments 
need new employees, they draw them from these lists beginning at the top of the list. 
The applicants take rank upon such eligible list as candidates for appointment in the order 
of their relative excellence as determined by such examination. The examinations are 
of. the nature calculated to determine the fitness to ably fill the particular position in 
question. Examinations for promotions are likewise held. In examinations of a technical 
nature, the department head making requisition for the employee assists in preparing 
the questions and grading the papers. All examinations are conducted by the Director 
of the Commission, except physical examinations, these being conducted by the City 
Health Officer. 

A very important function of the Civil Service is the hearing of appeals of employees 
recommended for discharge by the heads of departments. This is a very advantageous 
feature, not alone for the employee, but for the service as well. The decision of the Com- 
mission is final, and this feature assures a fair and impartial trial for the employee. 


89 


«hit —_—i— HN I | HN HN HY HY | HH HO i He Were 


Another very important work of the Commission is the checking of all weekly and 
semi-monthly payrolls of the City by its Director before they go to the Controller for 
payment. A particular safeguard in this feature is- that only the correct rate of salary 
established by the Council is approved, and also the determining if the proper authority 
has been obtained for the placement of new employees. 


An important work being carried on by the Commission is the instruction course 
for members of the Police and Fire Departments. These instructions are given at 
monthly efficiency meetings conducted by the Director of the Commission, and it is 
compulsory upon every man in each Department to attend these meetings. 


For both the Police and Fire Departments a merit and demerit system is in effect, 
and this plan has tended to materially increase the efficiency of the men in both, Depart- 
ments. 

The handling of the group insurance covering all City employees, whether under 
Civil Service or not, is another thing which devolves upon the Civil Service Commis- 
sion. 

During the year 1924 more than two thousand applications for various branches of 
the service were filed with the Commission, from which five hundred applicants were 
put through examinations and one hundred and sixty placed on the payrolls as proba- 
tionary employees. 

During the same period the Commission held fifty-two Civil Service examinations, 
from which eligible lists were created for the Police, Fire, Engineering, Inspection, 
Clerical, Stenographic, Health, Supervising, Skilled Labor, Park, and Operating En- 
gineering services. 

During 1924 there were nine Civil Service hearings, which resulted in six perma- 
nent dismissals and three reinstatements to full standing in the service. — 

From time to time the Commission receives a volume of information from the var- 
ious cities in the United States operating under the Civil Service system. This informa- 
tion comes in the form of an exchange and touches upon all phases of municipal activity, 
including salary rates, probationary periods, Civil Service rules, various positions, de- 
partment charts and surveys, and all other rules and regulations touching upon the Civil 
Service. 

This exchange system was inaugurated by the. National Assembly of Civil Service 
Commissions of the United States and Canada, of which the Houston Commission is a 
member. This method affords the Commission the opportunity of securing information 
with little delay from any of the five hundred cities under Civil Service rule in the 
United States. 

The Commission is very diligent in seeing to it that the employees classified so as: 
to receive increases in salary from the minimum to the maximum allowances, by reason: 
of satisfactory probationary periods ranging from six months to eighteen months, have 
fulfilled all requirements necessary before receiving these increases. On the other hand,. 
employees who by their satisfactory services are entitled to such periodical increases re-- 
ceive them without delay. 


During the year, the Commission with the approval of the City Council created forty- 
eight new positions in the classified service. These positions covered placements in the: 


90 


A 8h 5 NH o—— 8 [IRD 


Municipal zoo, golf course and Health service, and were necessary on account of the 
rapid growth of these branches of the service. The Commission issued the annual classi- 
fication schedule during the year. This schedule covers every position in the municipal 
service. It shows titles, probationary periods and salary rates in effect, also the number 
of employees serving in the various classifications. 


The schedule is for the use of the department heads, and is a part of the Commis- 
sion’s exchange system with other cities. 


The Commission is continually making a survey of the various departments in order 
to be posted at all times on the activities of the different branches and the services being 
rendered by each of the employees. This observation enables the Commission to make 
quick adjustments in the classified schedules when necessary. 


The Commission also continually makes investigations in regard to the execution of 
the Civil Service regulations and rules established thereunder, and also investigations 
concerning the general operation of the Civil Service of the City and all the branches 
thereof. By this close observation the Commission is at all times in a position to apply 
appropriate remedies for inefficiency and other shortcomings. 


The Commission carefully handles all special Police commissions, maintaining a 
complete record of each commission issued. 


Perfect harmony has prevailed between the Commission and the heads of the various 
City Departments since the inauguration of the system in 1913, and this was particularly 
true in 1924, the Commission working in perfect cooperation with the present administra- 
tion and receiving at all times unqualified support in all the Civil Service activities. 


Of 





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of viaduct 100 ft. 


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a San Jacinto Street Bridge J 








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The Engineering Department 


HE REPORT of the Engineering Department for the past two years is a story, 
“Tie in figures, of Houston’s greatest period of material progress. 

The Engineering Department in a growing city like Houston is perhaps its 
most important municipal department. Upon its efficiency depends much of the future 
growth and progress of the city. Most cities, including Houston, are suffering from mis- 
takes made in early days, due to lack of foresight, which our rapid growth now makes it 
costly to correct. , 





J.C. McVea, 
City Engineer. 


The Engineering Department of a city, day by day, is laying the foundations of the 
City’s future and necessarily it must act in a broad way, with its eye on the future ex- 


pansion 9nd needs of that future if it is to serve in the highest degree, the welfare of 
the City. 


This all emphasizes the need of a City Plan, and much thought has been given to 
that. Much progress is being made in securing the laying out of new additions inside 
the City Limits, and to some extent those immediately outside to conform in streets and 
other improvements with those of the City of Houston. 


But, still additions are being laid out, contiguous to Houston but beyond its city 
limits, over which the City has no control. It will take action by the State Legislature 
to remedy this condition. 


A good idea of the tremendous increase in the amount of work accomplished by the 
Engineering Department during the past two years, and the wonderful increase in mu- 


99 


“ll —Hi—— 1H A NL | A HH HAIRED 


nicipal improvements, is had by comparing the last two years accomplishments with the 
average for the past ten years. 


The increase for some of the most important lines of construction for the years 
1923 and 1924 over the average for the period 1913-1922 is as follows: 


1923: 1.1924 

Hard -sutface: paving 4.222 82% 212% 
Gravel pavinee’y 0) eee aoe 300% 181% 
Storm sewers tito. fee tae S29 12795 
Sanitary) sewers ..(te oe 468% 391% 
House connections to 

sanitany S@wetso iin owas ae 82% - 83% - 
New building construction ....326% 182% 


The increases in gravel paving, sanitary sewer construction and new building con- 
struction, are extraordinarily heavy, but the construction:of storm sewers is lagging some- 
what behind the City’s tremendous growth. 


The City Engineering Department has properly refused to approve the permanent 
paving of streets where drainage is inadequate, and until the City tackles this problem 
more whole-heartedly much hard-surfaced paving must necessarily be deferred. 


On account of the topography of Houston the cost of storm sewer drainage is heavy, 
and that probably accounts, more’than anything else, for the small accomplishment of 
the past. It will take an immense sum of money to construct a proper storm drainage 
system for Houston, but it is one of the big problems that now faces the municipality. 


In preparation to meet that problem the Engineering Department has worked out 
carefully preliminary plans for a complete drainage system, with estimated costs. When 
the drainage problem is solved in a big way the value of property will be greatly en- 
hanced in all sections; and one of the greatest obstacles to-the future development of the 
City will have been overcome. 


In new building construction during 1923 Houston ranked thirty-second in the Na- 
tion, and stepped up to thirty-first place in 1924. If the building statistics of Magnolia 
Park and Harrisburg had been included in Houston’s figures, this City would have 
ranked much higher in the Nation. e 


A tabulation of some phenomenal increases in building activities in American cities . 
in 1923 over 1914 are given below: 


Los’ Angeles = tape ey te eter 1002% 
Atlanta 2 o-ck etic cree eee ee 481% 
Houston... .2 24 es tee eee 435% 
Dallas! Ay ORT Oe ee er eee 279% 


The work of the Engineering Department, on account of the rapid development of 
the community, is hampered by reason of’ the fact that the office space is over-crowded 
and work cannot be handled in the most efficient manner. 


100 


. oc a er a a a a meh enn em an ma Ne a eB ee me eh eee NN A ae ee me Ne a WR>e- 


An idea of the extent of the work handled by the Department during the year 1924 
may be had from the following tabulation of expenditures from the various funds under 


its supervision, and some of the large construction financed by others, but supervised by 


this Department. 


1923 1924 

Paving Bond Fund.. sh 425,086.76 § 623,199.88 
Paving Assessed Against Property Ow ners. / 470, 248.30 888,886.04 
Paving by others.. Eki ae 480,000.00 813,218.00 
Drainage Bond Fund. 231,139.63 360,641.25 
Storm sewers constructed by others. . 47,748.25 2,855.50 
Sanitary sewer Bond Fund. Sores OP OLN) We ek 150,444.24 
Sanitary Sewers Constructed by ¢ Others. he Bie coisa 160,177.58 204,617.49 
Bridge Bond Fund.. ads fie 396,245.92 85,432.79 
Boulevard Bond Fund. st bate is Be 80,336.25 
General Improvements. . 254,034.86 111,026.96 
Engineering Department ‘Budget... 145,513.78 116,810.67 
Departmental Improvements. . 794.74 1,643.55 
Maintenance & Operation Sewage 

Pumping & Disposal Plants. . BAe Aad on Pyare eat ate (ie os alse 147,423.59 
epenine sro Widening Streets. fc... ce be cient ww sae 35,189.85 44,133.05 
ensite tq.klard surtace. Pavements...) 2... ..0% «ss. 50,263.26 72,633.50 
Repairs to Bridges... . 71999 13,683.32 


TECH ee ie eee . .$2,970,761.61 $3,716,985.08 


The above tabulation does not include many miscellaneous items of construction, such 
as sidewalks, curbs and gutters built by property owners but which, if included in the 
total, would make the work supervised by the Department well over the three million 
mark for 1923 and over four millions for 1924. 


| Paving 


New street paving to the extent of 96.195 miles, aggregating 1,403,191 square yards, 
was constructed during the two year period. Paving construction for these two years 
has exceeded that of any two years of this city’s history. 


Hard surface paving to the extent of 23.112 miles, or 494,132 square yards, was con- 
structed under contract during the two yearperiod at a cost to the City of $534,954.46, 
and to the property owners on the front-foot plan of $1,359,134.34. Gravel pavements to 
the extent of 41.613 miles, or 400,314 square yards, were laid under contract. 


Property owners laid a total of 15.232 mile, or 237,409 square yards of hard surface 
paving, and 17.549 miles, or 231,325 square yards of gravel and shell pavements. 


The total length of paved streets in the City at the close of the year 1924 was 
413.43 miles aggregating 6,091,201 square yards. 
Paving contracts awarded and under construction at the end of the year 1924 are 


as follows: 


. Wheeler 
. Louisiana 


CE ATOMIMEL OULCSL tts ie, React ae athe oe la ee oT oe 
Ureyeltia ciel AQ SOLS RR AEN A, oiler atte ey Ren a ia ee 
Washington Avenues ..... 4340-24. ..+.4...+...Fouston Ave. 
Wasting ton) Avenue jan wow nthe athe wow 6aS A oRs 
Win ereASCQUCw IN Wer me meas alten sin ween fete AUSTIN OE, 

Wiest Gra yoA venues sauna eae oF te Walph Drive 


to Hermann Park 

“Caroline St. 

"AG we COAG IR: Ro 
Rees ValevSt 

“ Sam Houston Park 

“ Taft Street 


101 


AlmédatRoadvess sete. Se oe ee 


. Holman Ave 


me ff ff fh ee Hh Ht ff Sf ff mH ff | HN i | | | | | LH HI WD 


Paving contracts awarded but not yet begun- are as follows: 


to City Limits 


Bayland Avenues penn er ee ee Ghai “ Houston Ave. 
Hamilton Streetst ie. 4 oe. ea ee CY, “ Texas Avenue 
Jackson Street enh, Me oe eee ee IeTCe “Tuam 

Lamar iA veniies).. 0. Ue. he cee Le ete 7 nee Oe “ Hutchins 
Telephone Road..... ee Re eek anit eek Polk “ Lawndale 
West DallassA ve.i45) a Gene een eae hs WON “ Waugh Drive 
RA MHIDE SUES «os a Oe Meme aime ccnee eat “ Elgin 

Mt. Vernon.. .. 9. A, & A, P. ROR. © WesthermeriRas 
Caroline. . 4) Rene eRe PU eee Bran ion “ Pierce 

Heiner & Sabine................++-++++4.++.West Dallas “ West Capitol 
Blodgett. . ; . .Hutchins “..1-G.: Nie aes 
eTitl 3 Ns a io OE et BON en Cate “ Bridge 

Rice Boulevard... ...........+..ss+++....4. Sunset Road “ So. Reinermann 
West' Capitol <k.g at ok deen merce ee ents oT tae “ Henderson 
Hopkins Strect....h a ahi eee eee Pacific “ Avondale 
Renwood? ::). 22-350 aee aac ieee Sete OEE “ Mt. Vernon 


An interesting table contained in the Engineer’s report is a statement of all paving 
added during fiscal year ended December 31, 1924, with grand total showing all pave- 
ments in the City: 


STATEMENT OF ALL PAVING ADDED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1924 WITH 
GRAND TOTAL SHOWING ALL PAVEMENTS IN THE CITY 


Grand Total 








Paving Done, 10924 
Kind ——_———_ Sas EEEEEEEEE 

Miles Square Yards Miles Square Yards 
Sheet Asphalt: 22 -..5s Jy: ops coeeie Mgt tes ee ee 4.036 80,941.97 
Asphaltic Concretégue. sas ee eee 60,758.23 18.509 400,019.37 
Bitulithic. . ee 7.205 136,258.75 353311 682,587.67 
Rock Asphalt. . 11.252 218,378.01 27.657 569,011.05 
Standard Brick. . SuSE Sel Be cee Sah bites 15.343 303,001.43 
Vertical Fibre Brick............ 1.109 23,057.68 [6.861 126,157.08 
Greosoted) WoodtBlockimm ssnrd-1si meena Re Septet 4.69 99,690.48 
Concrete <2; LR Se cok 2139 2,198.31 1.665 ' 20,353,06 
siete Macadam! oi Gedeues 1213 PPR) 7.428 | 82,458.01 
Gravel. . : Boe 17.228 162,489.47 207.019 2,350,330.19 
Shell. . 7.423 91,833.45 86.17 998,024.81 
Belgian Block. . lee Py Meee .099 1,768.0 
Bois D'Arc Blockou. ee. Ae ah ee Sp ihe Aa ox - .0642 6,122.0 
PavediGutter: suse onde Crea eee nee 21,161.41 hae? 148,288.6 
Houston Electric Co.. E259: OS cAe sens coe 224,015.94 

M TOTALS *.. hin Sara eee eee Le 715,698.89 413.43 6,091,201.46 











During the two years several bridges, started in 1922 were completed, and some 
others started and entirely finished. 


Final plans for the proposed Smith Street Bridge, connecting Smith Street, Con- 
gress Avenue and Sixth Street, were completed, contract awarded, work was about one- 
fourth done at the end of year 1924. The total cost will be approximately $175,000.00. 

The Crockett Street Viaduct, which connects Crockett Street with Hogan Street 
and crosses White Oak Bayou and the main line tracks of the Missouri, Kansas & 
Texas Railway, was completed in 1923 at a cost of $138, 098.61, of which the Railroad 
contributed $34,524.65. 


The Sabine Street Bridge, a reinforced concrete structure across Buffalo Bayou, 
was completed May 13, 1924 at a total cost of $224,160.50, including a channel change. 


102 


re 1] Tl TH Hl | | | HL | | HH 1 NN IE 


The Cleveland Park Bridge, a reinforced concrete structure on Waugh Drive, across 
Buffalo Bayou, was completed during 1923 at a cost of $77,823. This bridge connects 
Houston Heights Boulevard, thru Cleveland Park, with the thickly settled sections of 
Hyde Park and Montrose, in the southern part of the City. 


The Polk Avenue Bridge across Slaughter Pen Bayou was completed in 1923 at a 
cost of $14,521.38. It was built with the aim of eventually constructing Polk Avenue on 
thru to the east in order to relieve traffic congestion on some of the parallel streets. 


The North Main Street subway, under the Southern Pacific tracks, was completed 
in 1923 at a cost of $264,825.82, of which amount the Railroad paid $111,820.11, the 
Street Railway Company $76,343.79, and the City of Houston an equal amount. 


Plans were completed and contract awarded in 1924 for a bridge across Brays Bayou 
on a proposed extension of Bellaire Boulevard along the south line of Hermann Park. 
This bridge is to be a reinforced concrete structure especially designed for the park set- 
ting. The cost of this bridge will be approximately $70,000.00. 

During’ 1923 the Engineering Department checked and approved the plats for fifty- 
seven new additions, embracing 1193.97 acres. of land, and opening up 38.276 miles of 
new, streets. 

Subdivision activities were less in 1924, when only thirty-six plats were checked and 
approved, embracing an area of 439.51 acres, and opening up 13.7 miles of new streets. 

_ While. the City cannot limit the platting of property outside the city limits in any 
manner, the policy has been adopted of requiring such subdivision to conform to City of 
Houston standards before permitting: service to be extended to them from any of the 
City’s utilities. 

In this way the City hopes a much more desirable type of platting will be secured 
immediately outside of the City Limits. 

During the year 1923, the Engineering Department constructed one forty-ton garbage 
incinerator at a cost of $21,197. 

Surveys have been comp!eted and work started on the construction of two boule- 
vards, one on the White Oak Drive, the other, Buffalo Bayou Drive. Bonds of $150,000 
have been voted for each. 

The Engineering Department has compiled a new building code for, the City after 
the most modern and approved standards, which was submitted to engineers, architects, 
contractors and interested citizens for criticisms and suggestions before adoption by the 
City Council. 

Storm sewers, ranging in size from 12 inches to 96 inches in diameter, to the extent 
of 15.028 miles, were constructed by the City during the year, at a cost of $735,906.13. 
Construction by property owners in the development of new additions amounted to 2.315 
miles with a valuation of $50,603.75. 

_ The total length of storm sewers in the City at the end of the year was 80.562 miles, 
with a valuation of $3,421,315.85. 

Sanitary sewers, ranging in size from 6 inches to 15 inches in diameter, aggregat- 
ing 31.558 miles, were constructed by the City at a cost of $315,298.15. Sanitary sewers 
constructed by others amounted to 53.91 miles, with a valuation of $291,252.67. 


103 


iil 1 i | Yl | | | || | el i | | | | | | | Wig>e- 


The total mileage of sanitary sewers in the City of Houston at the close of the year 
was 282.868 miles, with a valuation of $2,589,690.63. 


The sewage pumping plants have operated with the usual high efficiency. No im- 
portant change. . 


There were 2190 million gallons of sewage passed thru the North Side Disposal 
Plant in 1924, which transported 3450 tons of solid matter in suspension, 87.8% of which 
was entirely removed and the remainder, with 9000 tons of dissolved matter was oxidized, 
or purified as judged by the biochemical oxygen demand (a very delicate test for puri- 
fication) to 93.8%. 


During the treatment process 4380 million cubic feet of air was compressed to a 
pressure of 5.38 pounds above atmospheric pressure. 


At the South Side Disposal Plant 712 million gallons of sewage were treated, an in- 
crease over 1923 of 11.0%. This flow transported 467 tons of matter in suspension, of 
which 88.5% was removed and a purification obtained of over 95%, an unusually high 
percentage. 


Satisfactory progress has been made in methods for the dehydration (a very diffi- 
cult problem) of the sludge, which is a by-product of the disposal plants, and when de- 
hydrated is valuable as a nitrogenous fertilizer. 


New sewage pumping plants were constructed in Woodland Terrace Addition at 
Watson and Wendell Streets, at Fannin St. and Harris Bayou and at Leeland Ave. and 
Telephone Road. These plants are equipped with the most modern automatic equip- 
ment, and cost a total of $33,791.80. 


Building Construction 


The total value of all building construction for which permits were issued during 
the year ended December 31, 1923, was $19,117,106.00, representing an increase of 
42.7% over the 1922 total. The year 1924 did not reach the same high mark, having a 
valuation of only $17,216,259.00. In 1923 Houston stood thirty-second in the Nation in 
the amount of building permit valuation, but in 1924 she had stepped up to thirty-first 
place. 

In the two: years there were issued 13,437 permits, authorizing the censtruction of 

5,666 new buildings at a value of $33,347,031.00, and the repairing of 8420 Ce at 
a value of $2,986,334.00. 


Of the new buildings constructed, 5138. were for residential purposes, valued at 
$18,153,716.00, or 54.4% of the total value. 

Of these residential buildings 4,935 were one-family and two-family dwellings, valued 
at $14,825,295.00. One hundred and thirty-two apartments were built at a cost of 
$1,744,983.00, providing accommodation for 838 families. 

In the non-residential classification, office buildings, including banks, lead with a 
valuation of $4,492,378.00, representing the construction of 27 buildings. 

Seven modern fire-proof hospitals were built, costing $1,641,027.00. These include 
the first and main unit of the Hermann Hospital, costing $887,627.00; an additional eight- 


104 


story unit to the Baptist Sanitarium, at a cost of $370,000.00; the City-County Hospital, 
at $200.000.00, Autrey Hospital School $55,000.00 and two privately owned medical. 
buildings costing 50,000.00 each. 

One hundred and eighty-two stores and mercantile buildings were constructed, in- 
cluding restaurants, lofts, warehouses and storage buildings, etc., costing $2,070,447.00. 

Six buildings classified as Schools, Colleges, Museums, etc., including one Chem- 
istry Laboratory Building for Rice Institute, at a value of $600,000.00, Sisters of Charity 
Novitiate School, $542,902.00, one Art Museum Building at $335,000.00, New Houston 
Public Library $348,344.00, Woodrow Wilson School $94,550.00 and Kinkaid Private 
School $69,500.00. 

Amusement and recreation places come next in order of money involved in their con- 
struction, with twenty-one buildings valued at $1,574,670.00. 

Factories follow in point of valuation, 76 being constructed, involving the expendi- 
ture of $1,028,166.00. 

Following are the different classes of buildings constructed that make up the balance 
of.the two year’s total in the order of their value: 
| Thirty-nine Public Garages, costing $414,391.00. é 

Nineteen buildings classified as Public Works, costing $1,333,680.00. 

Thirty Churches valued at $701,833.00. 

Sixteen sheds, including cotton and lumber sheds, valued at $62,600.00. 

Iorty-seven gasoline service stations at a cost of $76,600.00. 

Seventy-two other buildings of various kinds, at a cost of $358,539.00. 

One fire station at a cost of $4,000.00. 

The following table is a general review of the building situation in Houston from 
1912, and_illustrates the remarkably steady growth of the City based upon continued gains 


in value of building activities during the normal years before and after the World War. 








COMPARATIVE TABLE 






































Percentage 
, Per Cent | Residential 
Year Permits Bldgs. Valuation Increase Buildings 
Peerage ed ohne ker ime? . 3) 2909 ster $4,842,617 
es Died Prac eoes Senne ty hcheys «|, O49 atta. Dota eo LZ = 
Bee Me ha oa asf 4178 Agee 3,556.868 4s 
enone aati. ee ieee |" O00 3666 2103 3.09 blag oe 
EN ee Sree ae al ae KL 3448 3 ,086.870 ES | x. 
PT eS ein. soto LOO L 2552 3,124,327 a6 te | e, 
OLS Pe Mec tte sheets oie '6\\y 2206 2352 2,270,649 of Netz . BENE 
OA oes oR rr greek NG CM Pee 4065 4890 6,861,619 PN 48.1 
M2 () Wier, Seg tM otic th 204: 4507 8,531,447 = 24.3 41.1 
PO Sem ere wee, sas ects ov}, “OP09 7342 10,398,295 21.8 | 67.0 
Lies A hay ace CRRA ae eee 6893 7356 13,390,469 28.0 65.4 
MSDS PANN ye 27 Fi oye soto 4p aay oe 6736 7094 19,117,106 42.7 44.3 
ee es ate vee OT Ol 6992 17,216,259 11.4 62.5 








105 


+48 EE EE A RS HA A HH AS HI Se ee HH A HIRD 89 


The operating expense of the Engineering Department, for the year 1923, was 
-$122,170.58, and $116,810.67 for the year 1924. 


Operating expenses of the Sewage Pumping and Disposal Plants and Sewer System 
was $71,851.14 and $72,354.53 for 1924. 


Revenues from Surveys, Permits, Inspections, and other fees amounted to $52,105.98 
in 1923 and $56,082.12 for 1924. 

















106 : 














¢ 
: 
! 
s 








Park Scenes 
Ut the 
City of 

— Srouston 


* 




















eens acne nears pit tae renner 


SBE LEDS APTS Baie rags 





Sg 
oe 


Fi Sa 


ae et ritiStes 





“Gunlen Carder. 
Man Bld.and 


Hermann Pak 


Shelter House - 
Hermann Lark, 
Showing Big 
Five lace 


Shelter House, 
bbodand lark, 
Showing Cobnmade 
and Swimming ana 


iading Pools 








CM 1 AA RD 88 


Department of Parks 


HE YEAR 1924 was the one of greatest expansion in the park and boulevard sys- 
tem of Houston. 
The system of parks and boulevards as it now exists, was planned under the direc- 
tion of the famous landscape architect, the late George E. Kessler, of St. Louis and 
Kansas City. 





Gs bes Birock: 
Superintendent of Parks. 


His plans completed in 1913 have not nearly been carried out, but more progress has 
been made the last year than in all previous years since he made them. . Notable and far 
reaching achievements of the last year may be summarized in this way: 


Purchasing of 1503 acres of beautiful wooded land for a wonderful park to be known 
as Memorial Park and named in honor of Houston’s patriots in the World War. 

The acquiring of 133 1-2 acres addition to Hermann Park. 

The acquiring of 25 acres for a park site on the North Side; also Cherryhurst Park 
and Proctor Plaza. 

The many improvements at Hermann Park, including completion of the outer belt 
drive, the rapid growth of the zoo, the establishment of a public golf course, the new 


Miller Memorial, the increased equipment for the playground, including a wading pool 
and many minor improvements. Also the complete improvement of -Root Square. 


113 


8 Ht OO LL HH | fH Hl | fl fl | | | Ht MH HH a HN Iig>e~ 


The beginning of initial work on the permanent exposition grounds by establishing 
a dam at Sabine Street Bridge. 


The near completion of Waugh Drive, forming a cross town boulevard from Hous- 
ton Heights to South End. 


The beginning of work on the Buffalo Bayou Drive, and White Oak Drive which 
on completion will give the city a real boulevard system of which it may well be proud. 


In years gone by, Houston could not brag greatly of its park system. It was rather 
niggardly in their support. But there is an awakened sentiment in favor of parks and 
boulevards and such substantial starts have been made within the last year on great 
projects in the way of parks that Houston promises ere long to have a park and boule- 
vard system which it can show with pride to visitors. 


The superintendent of parks, and indefatigable worker for more parks in Houston, 
in his annual report, speaking of the advantage of parks and boulevards and a more 
beautiful city, says: 


“If Houston is to be the metropolis of the great Southwest the commercial center of 
a vast and populous territory, it must fit itself for the mission which it is to fulfill and in 
so doing it will attract to its limits the best type of citizenship the rich and the poor 
alike, to enjoy the advantages and opportunities; for, other things being equal, people 
will seek to dwell where they can get the most out of life for themselves and their child- 
ren; and, in conclusion, to become successful in its aims, the city must supply to a de- 
gree, materially exceeding other rival cities, all the results of modern progress and mod- 
ern civilization. . 


’ 


“The city must be the center of the sum total of the thought and activities of the 
people residing within its territory which the city inspires to dominate. The city must 
be as well the social center, if she desires to become without a successful rival, the busi- 
ness center.” 


At the head of Houston’s park system and crowning it all is Hermann Park, a gift to 
the city of the late George Hermann, whose entire fortune went at his death to enrich 
the lives of the people among whom he lived and died. 


It is composed of approximately 545 acres, mostly in native woodland, around and 
through which driveways circle. During the last year one of the finest golf courses in 
the South was opened in this park and thousands of Houston people are now so crowd- 
ing this public course that there is a demand for another. 


The zoo is one of the great attractions there. In 1920 there were one buffalo and 
one deer. Now there are hundreds of specimens and in 1924 alone 359 animals, birds 
and reptiles were donated to the zoo and the city is busily engaged in building more and 
more suitable quarters for them. The zoo is visited by 15,000 people on Sundays and as 
the zoo grows, which it is doing at a great pace, the crowds increase. 


Other features of Hermann Park are: A tourist camp, where thousands of autoists 
become annually the guest of Houston; a model playground, with wading pools where 
hundreds of children daily enjoy life; tennis courts; the magnificent Miller Memorial 
where open air concerts and entertainments are held. 


114 


ore AN Hn Ne Hh LN A I HH HK Hm Hm . 


The parks owned by the city with their acreage and boulevards, are: 





Name Area in Acres Name Area in Acres 
Perma i ace ee eee 1503.00 Martha Hermann Square ....4.... 1.437 
Pizaoet baldwin Park ....»... 5.00 Liermanie Pare eaueds ssa gee. O40. E20 
memermuston Park oo 6.6... ew. 20.43 ejelsc Mor Rata) sc 2s ets oe eerie: Koen 788 Sq. Ft. 
UUM ATK. si svg oe eee 26.03 WO Ate Paton AE AL Mie ne ogacat dal aly «.. 10.00 
oe Sie i 4.14 Libre Sag he) a Aa ree 42.39 
0 GSES ae i 10.77 Cleveland Park Extension ...,......28.00 
Breieere yal ss. kes ee 1.40 Weamutols bmdrven hark iter i.5)... 4°. ogie 
mmm Park ee ee 23.41 City Greenhouse and Nursery,.... 5 eye 
Wemiemoak Park ooo... 3s. SS ps 6) PROC PAT ts Sete: Riad (a's holes 1.437 
Mot se SCHOO] ow. Breed) eg mer Olitar ah seme are. ke 450 Sq. Ft. 
ree ark lee es 44.93 PUGUStMie LLeIONS eat Ke eoeee a fide. 7.00 
PeperraGe bark. so. ees es te0 Sa. Martine! den bPatkeerec: sucess 25.00 
North Side High School Park.... 6.06 Proctuce Plag awn inicwee cauiho cs ee: 5) 
Seasaeend High School Park,..... 10.00 emraitstimr atice ss nati cs cote, ed 

AON ANS 2 Spe Soe in eRe ge a 2,459 
BpetmrecerGlVd. J. ae ees 14 Miles RY A ROUTING ESV teeta ee ea ccarcr peek ye 3-5 Miles 
PRICES Ooh ala Sede esses 1 Mile PPATOUTOOIN FES 1VG elem Aaa nok ae «2 1-5- Miles 
Uoisnk (0) ofc gs 5) ge Ai 1-4 Mile dew bathe, Dlydsaee | ties «4 1-5 Miles 
a0 LS i a 1-2 Mile Souther Hamptomobluds: ae ose 5 1-2 Mile 
MtawrordobiVds jo... foes 1-4 Mile Erousron, Hemi Blvd) ei sass 2 Miles 
Montrose Blvd. 


55 AOR D REE 1 1-2 Mile Mateo Gene retard ersuecl +2 Miles 


Total Miles cared for by Park Dept 


The expenditure for all park purposes was $216,604.22 in 1924. This was divided 
as follows: 


arisiemtisritetrance, | LADOT ~avat. <cus ones once 2 -, $92,613.00 
Gree anLenances ou DDIHeS dvs. aa stop cares «hes oe 31,182.88 
CLES VEMENIS. uh dele a she eave oe ta dee ele 92,808.34- 


In addition to this the City provides money for band concerts in parks in various sec- 
tions of the city during summer months. 


The Park Department maintains its own green house and nursery and this depart- 
ment furnished 80,502 plants to the various parks during the year in addition to 2014 
plants furnished hospitals and other public buildings and 352 furnished to schools. 


The management of Houston parks is directly under a board of park commissioners. 
This commission is appointed by the Mayor and council, serves without pay and reports 
to that body, from which it receives finances by appropriation for park support. Dur- 
ing the year the commissioners employed Hare & Hare of Kansas City, as consulting 
landscape architects. 


The City Architect acts as architect for the commissioners in construction of build- 
ings. The City Engineer serves the commissioners as engineer. 


There is a growing sentiment in Houston for more and larger and better improved 
parks, as is evidenced by requests from citizens and organizations in many sections for 
the purchase of park sites in their neighborhood and improvements of already owned 


115- 


0c) MS lll — | || A Ing>e- 


sites. The playground movement has had atremendous impetus the last few yeats and 
it is the aim of the park commissioners to have a playground within a half-mile of every 
home in Houston within the near future. 


Efforts of this administration to extend parks is commendable. Officials are look- 
ing towards future generations in their work. The Memorial Park, which is the biggest 
thing yet undertaken by the city along this line, promises to become one of the outstand- 
ing recreation spots of the South. 


116 





g ONE OF THE RESERVE SUB- 
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The Department of Public Service 


NE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS of the present administration was the creation 
of a department of Public Service. 


The City has had, for many years, large supervisory powers over its public utili- 
ties through franchises and under general laws; but until the last two years, it had no 
agency which devoted itself to the task of seeing that these franchises were carried out or 
that the interests of the public were properly safeguarded. The present Public Service Com- 
missioner was appointed to his position April 18, 1923. 





C. J. -Kirk, 


Public Service Comiitssioner. 


The Commissioner was given space in the City Hall and an appropriation of $10,500 
made to defray the expenses of the office the remainder of the year. His appointment 
marked a distinct departure in the policy of the City in its dealings with public utilities. 


By ordinances, he has general supervisory authority over all public service corpora- 
tions operating by municipal authority. It is made his duty to supervise the performance 
of their duties to the City and the public and he is vested with particular power over all 
franchises of every description granted by the City. A franchise is nothing but a con- 
tract between the public, through its City Council, and a public utility. 


It was recognized the public was at a tremendous disadvantage so long as there was 
no one specifically charged with the duties of enforcing the contractural rights of the pub- 
lic. This is the reason for the creation of this department. Since the creation of this 


119 


° fre 1 El ll hh | TE | HE | HY | Ht Wig>>= 


office, the public has a place to which it can take its grievances when it believes public 
utilities are not giving proper service. The public has evidently appreciated this fact, 
for the number of complaints has steadily increased. 


As these complaints come to the office, it promptly investigates; and if it finds they 
are justified, orders the utility to comply with its contract and give proper service. 


This department also aids utilities by helping them in working out standards of serv- 
ice, by making suggestions for remedying defects in service which come daily to the at- 
tention of the Public Service Department 


The Public Service Department is also constantly engaged in the investigation of 
charges made for service. Only recently, the department has recommended to City Coun- 
cil the charges being made by two public utilities are excessive and ought to be reduced. 


The Public Service Commissioner also makes plans for the future, and one of his 
duties is to outline the future needs of the City. In his first annual report, the Public 
Service Commissioner said: 


“Tt becomes the duty of a utility to discharge its contract by rendering a good eco- — 
nomical service, one might say service plus. That is, in addition to satisfying the im- 
mediate needs of the community, to prepare and be prepared to render this service as the 
demands of the public increase. If we accept this as the duty of the utility, then we: 
must understand that it becomes also the duty of the public, through its representatives 
Meer discharge the contract by using and regulating this service in a just and fair manner, 
fair alike to the utility and to itself.” 


The Public Service Commissioner’s office is supported by a special tax levied upon 
each of the public utilities, which has been agreed to in contracts the City madé with the 
utilities. 


The Department of Public Service is composed of the following: 


1 Public Service Commissioner 

1 Electrical Engineer 

1 Street Car Inspector, with inspection super- 
vision over rent cars. 

1 Boiler and Elevator Inspector 

1 Gas and Electrical Inspector 

2 Clerks 


Activities of the Public Utilities 
Houston Lighting & Power Company 


The Houston Lighting and Power Company, during the year of 1924, expended $5,- 
259,336.50 in new construction, $3,708,183.63 of which comprises the Deep Water Power 
Station. The Houston Lighting and Power Company, December 31, 1923, had 42,554 
meter connections, and December 31, 1924 had 49,677, showing an increase of 7,123 
meters for the year or 17% increase. Their average number of employees during the 
year was 649. 


120 


=i i YE mt te ee i>. 


Houston Gas and Fuel Company 


The Houston Gas and Fuel Company expended $860,000 during 1924 in additions to 
plant, which comprised the construction of 2 one-million cubic feet district holders and 
the construction of 9 miles of 12 and 16 inch feeder mains. During the vear 1924, the 


Gas Company extended their City main 30.71 miles as follows: ‘fs 
| Recnchniiaind sk )s aera Coe 4.54 miles 
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borat eile tg Ce eet CAs 
LGaies Bay | Ceteeee 4. wee Cte eee aie or it: 


During the year, the number of meters of the Gas Company increased from 26,109 
to '27,926—an increase of 714%. The Gas Company expended $454,721. in 1924 for sala- 
ries to employees. 


Southwestern Bell Telephone Company 


The business and residence telephones of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, 
within the City limits, were increased from 38,705 to 42,955 during the year 1924, an in- 
crease of 11%. They. made an approximate addition to their plant of $1,000,000. 


_ Houston Electric Company 


During the year 1924, the Houston Electric Company expended $799,837 on improve- 
ments to track, paving and equipment, of this amount, new track, paving and_ similar 
improvements amounted to $364,667 the most expensive work being the paving of Wash- 
ington Avenue and reconstruction of track from 5th street to Waugh Drive at a cost of 
$144,000. 

Three bus lines were established, one on Austin street, a second to East End and a 
third to the West Webster section. For operation of business, 21 busses were purchased 
at a total cost of $176,970 while 15 new street cars were also bought «and put in serv- 
ice, this costing $192,193. 


Double tracking the Franklin line, which was commenced in 1924 and will be com- 
pleted in 1925, will cost approximately $100,000. — 


Because the full 1925 program has not been definitely determined, figures for this 
year cannot be given at the present time. 


_ Under this company’s agreement with the people of Houston, it is understood that 
the company would expend a total of $1,500,000 during a period of three years from 
January 1, 1924. The quota for the first year should have been approximately $500,000. 
As a matter of record, it has been approximately $800,000. 


The establishment of the Department of Public Service is another example of the 
determination of the present administration to safeguard the interests of the people in se- 
curing at all times, efficient service from the public service corporations and common 


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The Health Department 


4 
HE Health Department of the City of Houston has aimed to keep abreast of the 


rapid growth of the City, and also to keep informed,andto institute all of the modern 
methods of disease prevention, that have been recommended by the United States 
Public Health Service, American Public Health Association and the State Department of 
Health. In the past ten years, there have been a great many changes in the department 





Arthur Heath Flickwir, M.D.F.A.P.H.A., 
Health Officer 


and numerous new activities have been undertaken. A great deal of modern equipment 
has been added and new personnel employed. 


One of the outstanding improvements that has been made in the department, and 
which is of utmost value to the city, has been the standardizing of Vital Statistics and 
their acceptance by the Department of Commerce at Washington, D. C., as authentic, 
and the weekly publication of the same by this department in its report of the Vital 
Statistics of seventy-two of the larger cities of the Nation. 


One of the divisions which has made rapid strides in the past ten years is the Dairy 
and Milk Inspection division. It has now broadened its activities, until all of the milk 
and milk products sold within the City of Houston are inspected at the soure of produc- 
tion and also at the time of delivery to the public. This Department has protected the 
citizens of Houston against the infection of tuberculosis from milk, by requiring all of 
the herds of dairy cattle, from which milk is sold within the City, to be tested for tuber- 
culosis by a qualified veterinarian. 


125 


. +c -— HW 5 Ht em Hm 1 mm 1 me me EH me 1 mm HH me Mmmm me Wg>e- 


The City Laboratory has been enlarged and now makes Analysis not only of speci- 
mens pertaining to disease and public heaith, but also many features of industrial chem- 
istry and bacteriology, pertaining to City Departments and Industries are taken care of 
by this Laboratory. 


Another important improvement has been made in the handling of contagious and 
infectious diseases, by co-operation with the Laboratory. The most modern methods are 
maintained in this Department,*and not only the individual suffering from contagious - 
disease are quarantined but also the carriers of said disease. This, in the opinion of the 
Board of Health has kept down many epidemics that otherwise would have originated. 


At the outbreak of the war in 1917, through co-operation with the United States 
Health Service, the State Health Board and other Agencies of the Government, several 
important new activities were formed, made necessary on account of the establishment 
of one of the large army camps at this point; most notable among these health activities 
was the Department of Venereal Disease Control. In some places this work was dropped 
after the Federal Government ceased to contribute and the army camps were closed; not ” 
so, however, with Housten, this work having shown such excellent results in the preven- 
tion and treatment of this particular kind of disease, Houston continued this work and 
is today one of the cleanest cities in the United States, regarding venereal disease, the 
Houston V. D. Clinic being known and quoted throughout the United States as one of 
the ideal clinics of this type. 


The great war also had a direct bearing on the method of the inspection and operat- 
ing of restaurants and other food establishments. Most of the personnel of this De- 
partment received excellent training in the different sanitary branches of the Army and 
Navy and brought home with them the most up-to-date methods of food inspection and 
sanitary arrangement of food handling establishments. 


Since 1920, when the present Health Officer assumed the duties of this office, the 
following new divisions have been created: Division of Rodent Extermination and Ex- 
amination, which was made necessary at the time when the city became one of the 
world’s large ports, trading to a large extent with South American and other foreign 
countries; next, the division of Mosquito Control—this division being enlarged from time 
to time and functioning to such an extent that disease carrying mosquitoes have been 
practically eliminated within the City limits. 

Another division that has been of great help to the laboring classes of the City, has 
been that of Industrial Hygiene, or the inspection of industrial plants, paying particular 
attention to the working conditions and surroundings of establishments where women and 
girls are employed. 


Another important branch of the Division of Sanitation has been that of the enforc- 
ing of the City Ordinance regarding sewer connections and sanitary plumbing in the resi- 
dence section. Thousands of homes have been enabled to make connections with the 
City sewers in the last five years. It is the aim of this division to see that all buildings 
connect to the sanitary sewers as rapidly as the same are constructed by the Engineer- 
ing Department. 

In 1923 the City Council passed a Meat Inspection Ordinance and created a divis- 
ion of Veterinary medicine which has charge of the same and at the present time, all 


126 


meat consumed within the City of Houston, undergoes a rigid inspection by a duly 
qualified veterinarian and cannot be sold unless it bears the stamp of the Health De- 
partment or that of the meat inspection department of the United States Government. 


Regarding the indigent sick of the City a remarkable change has been made. Up 
until four years ago these patients were taken care of in a private hospital and treated by 
the Health Officers. At present the City owns, jointly, with the County, the new Jef- 
ferson Davis Hospital which is a modern institution of one hundred and fifty beds, where 
the poor of the City and County receive excellent treatment, free of charge. There is 
also a modern psychopathic ward in this institution, where the insane are given modern, 
scientific care until such time as they can be removed to the State institution. The Hos- 
pital also maintains an out-patient clinic where the poor can go for treatment. The staff 
of the Jefferson Davis Hospital is made up of the most eminent physicians and surgeons 
of the City, who generously give their services to relieve the suffering of the poor of the 
City. Such services can not be measured in dollars and cents but shows the human in- 
terest that has always been maintained by the medical profession of Houston in admin- 
istering to the indigent sick. 


During the last decade, great improvement has been made in the Garbage and Dis- 
posal division. Five incinerators have been erected which burn the greater portion of 
the garbage and other waste. This is very necessary in our southern climate, as the 
quick disposal of waste is very much desired and has a great bearing on the City’s sani- 
tation. 


It is the hope of this department to eventually dispose of all the garbage and waste 
by incineration or some other manner, which will completely eliminate the old method 
of dumping. 


Many improvements can always be made in a Health Department. New discover- 
ies by scientists regarding the transmission of disease require different methods as to the 
combating of the same. 


The general public in the last few years has become very much interested in public 
health and there has been many laudable health undertakings, championed by them, out 
of which numerous volunteer organizations have been formed. These organizations have 
been very active in Houston and a great deal of good health work has been done by them. 
It has always been the aim of the Health Department to co-operate with volunteer health 
organizations at all times. 


The American Red Cross is one such organization deserving special mention for it 
made possible the establishment of the present Municipal Hospital and City Clinic by 
donating to the City $35,000 worth of hospital equipment in 1918, that had been in- 
tended for an overseas Hospital Unit, but was not shipped before the Armistice was 
signed. This organization also instituted the teaching of home hygiene and care of the 
sick in the City Schools. 


The Anti-Tuberculosis League and the nursing department of the Social Service 
Bureau are volunteer organizations that have also done a great deal of health work. 


The Medical Inspection of Schools and the department of school nursing in the City 
of Houston is one of. the best in the South. Although this is not a division of the Health 


127, 


RE 1 I NN Nh NH NI 


Department proper, it is one of the collaborating health agencies of the City. It is un- 
der the direction of the Supervisor of Hygienics of the Schools, who is appointed by the 
School Board and the department maintained by school taxes. 


The Health Board has many plans for extending the work of the Department in the 
future. Its members are very enthusiastic health advocates and although they serve 
without pay, they have made extensive investigations at their own expense and the Health 
Officer has received valuabie information and suggestions from this Board. 


Some of the new activities that the Health Department expects to launch in the near 
future are: Division of Public Health Education; the publication of a monthly health 
journal; establishment of a Clinic for Mental Hygiene and many other activities which 
will help the cause of disease prevention. 


Extensive health work has. had its reward in the low infant mortality and low death 
rate that Houston has maintained for the past five years. 


The followi ing statistics will show the great amount of se accomplished by this — 
department during 1924. ; 


Number of visits made by City Physicians to the poor.. 4,591 
Number of prescriptions filled by City Pharmacist for 


POOLE. 0) ab UE ERS Ae i ee I 13,633 
Number of examinations made by Public Health Lab- 
oratory. 2,5) rd SRS be piss tee eee ee 15,181 


Number of Inspections made by the Food Department cel 
Fines collected in the City Court for the violation of 


the..Pure Foods Laws Sac l Sage ee eee $925.00 
Number of inspections of animals and carcass to be 

used for: meat wih ss wh 2 cup tnt sleds, ee 26,171 
Number of inspections made by the Sanitary Diy. .... 45,540 
Number of inspections made by the Scavenger Div. .... 50,317 
Number of Tons of garbage removed during the year .. 70,134 
Number of Tons of garbage burned in incinerators .... 45,100 
Number of cattle tested for tuberculosis .............. 12,688 
Number of dairies that receive regular inspection at 

stated. intervaleudarino (yearn. ane eae ii. 
N 





umber of inspections made by Mosquito Control] Div... 11,848 

Number of city blocks oiled to prevent breeding of 
MOSQuitOEs. | > \. ee ee eos A eee 20,902 

Number of gallons’ ot *o1litised=- ha. ae er eee eee 15,975 

Number of Fire barrels treated with nitrate cake and 

carbolic acid to prevent breeding of mosquitoes .. 13,954 


Number of cisterns stocked with Gambusia minnows .. 770 
Number of cultures taken by the Quarantine Division... 1,315 
Cases ‘investigated iui visits shonin tes aiaeaenee wenn ee 216 
Premises; disinfected: 77 27a war eie ty cee ci ees 915 


Number of treatments given at the out-patient clinic ... 11,464 
Number of cases treated at V. D. Clinic: 
Female . 
Male . 


The excellent service rendered by the Health Reps ies is the source of pride to 
the citizens of Houston. 


128 





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The Electrical Department 


OUSTON’S ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT, with its network of wires and fire 
H and police alarm boxes scattered throughout the City, is one of the most impor- 

tant branches of the City Government. From its infancy, in 1898, this department 
has been forging ahead until now its alarm systems are in close touch with almost 
every section of the city. 


Besides handling the police and fire alarm systems the department is in full charge of 
the electric traffic signals which are being used on the streets in the downtown section. 





Clarence R. George, 
City Electrician. 


The fire alarm system now consists of 280 fire alarm signaling boxes, with 10 miles 
of underground cable, approximately 250 miles of overhead wire, with a Central office 
equipment of modern apparatus consisting of 20 box circuits and repeating instruments, 
for receiving and sending alarms to the sixteen engine houses connected with the system. 
The installation of fire alarm boxes in the commercial districts will compare favorably 
with any city. These boxes are mounted on iron pedestals and connected direct to the 
underground cables, and each box is provided with a light and a thirteen inch globe with 
the words “Fire-Alarm” in red, which signifies to the public the purpose of these boxes. 


In 1909 the city officials saw the need of the installation of a police telegraph signal- 
ing system, which is similar to the fire alarm system, but for the sole use of the police- 
men reporting and receiving information in the remote parts of the City, and keeping in 
direct communication with Police Headquarters. 


i35 


111, 11 8 0 0 I HN i NN HN NH 1X —— Hh Hh HTD = 


This system consists of 60 Police boxes and 24 patrol circuits, 5 officers cir- 
cuits and 60 flashlight circuits. The purpose of the police signaling system is when the 
officers are making the rounds of their designated territory, as they pass in the neigh- 
borhood of the police signaling boxes, they can report to Headquarters by signaling, as 
well as by telephoning, as these boxes are equipped for talking. These boxes are also 
equipped with what is known as a “flashlight and bell system”, which enables the police 
headquarters to signal and get in communication with policemen in any part of the city. 


The Police Patrol System is one of the most valuable assets of the Police Depart- 
ment. This system is so constructed and installed that Police officers, while attending 
duties of their regular rounds, can communicate by code reporting, and also talk direct 
to Police Headquarters. 


When it is necessary for the Police Department to send out an emergency call, or 
give other information to the Police Officer, the operator is notified of whatever in- 
formation that the Headquarters desires to give to the officer. By the use of the “flash- 
light and bells” provided over each Police box, the operator can get in direct communi- 
cation with every officer in the city, with the exception of those in the parts of the city 
where such boxes have not been provided. 


One of the great problems confronting American Municipalities now is the proper 
control of Street Traffic. This Department has been active, under the direction of the 
Mayor, in installing an electrical sinaling system that would meet with the approval of 
the motoring public, and at the same time enable the Traffic Squad to properly handle 
traffic by these signaling devices. ’ 

During the year 1924 and as during previous years, this department has maintained 
the electrical equipments, repairs and small additions for all other city departments, in- 
cluding the two hospitals and in fact every department calling for electrical service and 
repairs. 

A review of some of the work of these departments will show the nature of the 
work this department is called upon to do. 


EXTENSION OF POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM: During the year six new Police 
Patrol Signal boxes have been installed. 

The new Police Patrol Signal switchboard was installed and put into service and 
since the original installation, six additional circuits and twenty flashlight recall circuits 
were added. 

The Board has as an integral part of its equipment an 80-line standard Western 
Electric Co’s. P. B. X. telephone switchboard for handling the police department tele- 
phones. 

NEW FIRE STATION FIRE ALARM EQUIPMENT: New fire stations No. 
15 and 16 have been fully equipped with fire alarm receiving apparatus such as gongs, 


recording registers and the necessary instruments for this purpose. 


TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM: Traffic signals for twenty-six street intersections 
were installed during the past year, and these combined with the original system of eight 


136 


ore li ht NN TL IR . 


intersections on Main Street from McKinney to Congress and five intersections on 
Travis from Capitol to Congress gives a total of thirty-nine traffic controlled intersec- 
tions. 

The additional traffic signals installed during the past year are of a more improved 
type of signal than those first installed on Main and Travis Streets. The general con- 
struction is neater, and the installation while overhead—pole line construction, is as neat 
and complete as could be made. 

OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS: This department has made all repairs, renew- 
als, and maintained the electrical equipment for all other city departments when called 
upon. 

A review of some of the work for these departments will show the nature of the re- 
pairs, renewals and maintenance this department is, called upon to do. 

PARK DEPARTMENT: At Hermann Park constructed an underground conduit 
system running from the Water Works sub-station to the Miller Memorial and, pulled in 
one 2300 volt cable in the system for supplying lighting and power service to the Miller 
Memorial and golf club house and other buildings. 

Maintaining and repairing the electrical equipment and apparatus in the park build- 
ings from time to time. 

Installed time switch in Root Square park house for turning off and on the lights 
automatically. 

Installed high tension lightning arresters on 2300 volt cable at junction of aerial lines 
with underground cable at Hermann Park. 

Installed wiring system at Miller Memorial from panel service on stage to transformer 
vault for lighting and power for curtain hoisting actor. . 

The following parks have been wired and equipped with service boxes for attaching 
moving picture machines; North Side Junior, Woodland, Settegast, Eastwood, Miller 
Memorial, Cleveland, Emancipation and Cherryhurst. 

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT: Atthe southside disposal plant removed a one 
K. W. transformer and replaced same with a five K. W. as one K. W. transformer was 
insufficient for the load demand. 

CITY HALL: Maintained all electrical equipment at the City Hall and market. 


BRIDGES AND TUNNELS: This department regularly maintains the lighting sys- 
tem on all bridges and the North Side tunnel with regular inspection for lamp outage. 

FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS: This department is frequently called on 
by these departments for electrical repairs and additional installations of lights etc., and 
for electrical trouble. 

RECREATION DEPARTMENT: Removing flood lights from Hermann Park to 
the rodeo grounds and placing same in position with necessary lighting connection, string- 
_ ing festoon lighting for the Civic Circus. 

Installing lights in various play grounds from time to time. 


Decorating and lighting the Tree of Light on Market Square. 


137 


© I HH NN NH A ID 


OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS: This department has given the usual care and 
maintenance of electrical equipment at the City Hall, and the equipment used by all of 
the municipal departments including the libraries. 


The mention of this department work by the electrical department does not include 
all work, as there are many small repairs and cases of trouble of which no account is 
taken, but the mention of some of the work gives an idea of what is done and to the 
many calls to which this department responds. 


An extensive constructive program has been outlined by this department for the year 
1925 and will include an extension of Houston’s excelent traffic system in order for the 
system to cover a larger area in the business section of the City. In addition plans are 
under way for the extension of the fire and police signal boxes which will extend the 
territory served by this modern electrical system: Changes in the improvement of the 
underground cable lines; New line wire overhead construction; Outside extensions and 
general improvements in the equipment due to modern electrical innovations. 


The Electrical Department functions with a corps of twenty skilled and trained em- 
ployees under the supervision of a Superint:ndent known as the City Electrician, 


baer as 





_ Recreation Departinen 


eens IS TR ST AE SORIA 











$m me I 1 1 HY He HT Hf a Ht OL 


1H Ht eH HEIR @ 


The Recreation Department 


HE Department of Recreation was created by City Ordinance January 24, 1921. 


The varied activities of this Department promote a wholesome influence over the 
entire community. 


This Department is based upon the following fundamentals : 
The City’s need of: 


The unselfish organized service of its citizens. 


Trained people to give full time to thinking, planning and working for the best 
possible use of the leisure hours of its men, women and children. 





Miss Corinne Fonde, 
Recreation Secretary. 


The Wisdom of: 
Recreation: 


’ 


That builds citizenship as well as fills the leisure hours. 


That provides for healthy expression of the great human desire for companion- 
ship and social life. 


That develops appreciation of the beautiful. 

Training of the entire people to enjoy wholesome good times in home, church 

and all natural relationships, as well as in playgrounds and recreational centers. 
The program: 

Takes into account the interests of people in: Their Environment; and in Phys- 


ical, Manual (creative, constructive), Rhymthic, Dramatic, Linguistic, Social and 
Civic Activities. 


143 


“ ul Hf eH Se Hae | Eh EL | | | | | | Ht || HH | joe 


The following divisions of the Department will show at a glance the broad scope of 
activities promoted and the varied services rendered the taxpayers by this unique branch 
of the municipal government: 


PLAYGROUNDS: 


During 1924 the Playground Division 

Offered play supervision to little children, boys, girls and adults, on eight year- 
round playgrounds and an additional fifteen summer playgrounds. 

Total attendance — White playgrounds, 246,438; colored playgrounds, 53,385. 

Provided at three pools free swimming for boys and girls in summer. 

Attendance—White, 5,237; Colored 1,549. 

Conducted many games and gymnastic periods in the Municipal Gymnasium. 

An intensive two-weeks institute, in which all members of the Executive Staif 
served as instructors, was required of all employed playground directors, and brought to 
the playgrounds many excellent volunteers. 

Some of the outstanding features of the year’s program were: 

Inter-Playground Supremacy Contest—A method of grading all games, tournaments, 
exhibits, etc., to determine the award of the Midget, Junior, Intermediate, Senior and 
Grand Supremacy Banners at the end of each month. In games Sportsmanship is count- 
ed for fifty (50) points, Reliability for twenty (20) points and Winning, thirty (30). 

Handcraft—Making simple toys for children, basketry, kites, lanterns, boats, whit- 
tling, etc. 

Tournaments—Many and varied; bicycle, jackstones, tops, kite, aquatic, checker, 
marble, drop kicking, etc. 

Clubs—Athletic, social, handcraft and dramatic predominating, though civic, debat- 
ing and musical groups are beginning to organize. 

Novelty Events—Pet shows, stunt nights, tumbling, doll shows, etc. 

The above and many other activities heip to make of the playgrounds “Schools of 
self-discovery and self-direction.” 


ATHLETICS: 

The work of this division covers all phases of a Municipal Athietic Program. In- 
cluded in the activities are games such as Baseball, Tennis, Football, Basketball, Horse 
Shoes, Aquatics, Track Meets, and many special events. These sports are organized 
through such mediums as the Neighborhoods, Churches, Schools, Industries, and Commer- 
cial houses. An idea of how far reaching some of these organizations are is given in the 
facts that the Houston Amateur Baseball Federation had 1,850 players who played to ap- 
proximately 185,000 spectators in 1924. Permits for the use of Baseball Diamonds and 
Tennis Courts are issued at the Department’s office. 


COMMUNITY MUSIC: 

Houston Orchestral Society and Houston Harmonic Society are both operated by 
this Division. Music Study Courses and a Boys’ Chorus is also conducted. Community 
Concerts with artist soloists and lectures are presented and an extensive Christmas 


144 


CP i it a Hh a A = HN NN Yh PN HN Rae» 


Caroling program carried on. Community “Sings” are arranged and directed and Per- 
cussion orchestras encouraged. Courses in playground music are offered as part of cur- 
riculum of Playground Institutes. 


During 1924: 


359 rehearsals were held with 7,45lparticipating. 

8/7 performances were given with 3,049 participating. 
47 community “sings” held with 11,695 participating. 
42 music study classes held with 180 in attendance. 


The City appropriated $10,000.00 for Summer Band Concerts. A director and twen- 
ty-four (24) bandsmen played fifty-one (51) concerts on ten (10) playgrounds or parks. 


Attendance 87,300. 
NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 


This Division organizes and fosters social recreation in neighborhoods. Activities 
are conducted in various places over the City in schools, halls, club rooms, churches and 
on playgrounds. The neighborhoods surrounding playgrounds are centers of concen- 
trated work by the director. 

Direct contacts are made through visiting in the homes, attending meetings, giving 
and enlisting cooperation, assisting playground directors in making connection with 
homes and community organizations. 

And in 1924 3,367 adults and young people were assisted to enjoy home play and 
_ neighborhood parties. 

Party Service — To assist in planning parties, picnics and good times, generally. 
There were 650 party bulletins on seasonal parties and programs were issued in 1924. 

Home Play—lIn response to many demands, special promotion is being given Home 
Play by teaching games which can be played at home by parents and children together. 


One of the slogans of this division is: 
“Keep the children in the home and the young people in the neighborhood.” 


EDUCATIONAL DRAMATICS: 


Included in the activities of this division during 1924 was the participation of 4,734 
children and adults in 55 amateur performances, plays, festivals and pageants. <A child- 
ren’s circus as a closing for the summer’s program was an added feature this past year. 
Story hours are conducted on the city’s playgrounds under supervision of the director of 
Educational Dramatics. A drama library and costume chest is at the service of any one 
in the city, as well as the advice and suggestions from the director on community dra- 
matic efforts. 


HOUSTON GIRL SCOUTS: 


The Houston Girl Scouts have been organized for three years as a part of the Rec- 
reation Department. Hundreds of girls have taken advantage of the splendid opportu- 
nities offered through this organization, such as: Hikes, Games, Folk Dancing, Home 
Making, Dress Making, First Aid, Pioneering, Firemaking, Outdoor Cooking, Handcraft, 
Nature Lore, Swimming and Summer Camping. 


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och! ti —— 1 —— eT A NN NN KH HI 


The organization has become so well esstablished that it is now prepared to stand on 
its own feet, as is customary over the country. Houston Girl Scouts are, therefore, 
happy to announce that they will open their own headquarters early in 1925. 


Among the many recreational features provided by the City of Houston for the pub- 
lic are the free moving picture entertainments in the parks, 


These delightful outdoor amusements are held one night of each week in fourteen of 
the different parks of the City. Only the highest class pictures are shown and consist of 
educational pictures, dramas and comedies. 


More than thirty thousand persons are in attendance every week enjoying this 
healthy recreational feature. 


The Recreational Department works with children, boys, girls and adults. 
It believes that: 


“Each child under ten years of age should be given opportunity to play upon a 
public playground without going more than one-quarter mile from home. 


“Every community should provide space in sufficient area for the boys of the com- 
munity to play baseball and football. 


“Every community should provide opportunity for the boys and girls to swim. 


“Every new school built ought to have a certain minimum amount of space around 
it provided for the play of children. 


“That in new real estate developments of five acres or more, not less than one-tenth 
of the space should be set aside to be used for play, just as part of the land is set aside 
for streets. 


“That nearly every school building ought to have an auditorium, preferably on the 
ground floor, and it should be so constructed that it is suited to community use. 


“That if a suitable meeting place for community groups is not available in the school 
or elsewhere, a community building should be provided.” 


A Houston recreation survey is being carefully made by one of the ablest field secre- 
taries of the Playground and Recreation Association of America. This should insure the 
growth of this Department into a thorough municipal system. It will undoubtedly point 
the way to much necessary development if Houston is to provide adequately for the 
leisure time needs of her people. ; 

In supporting a steadily developing year round recreation system the City of Houston 
has demonstrated the principle that “government is the greatest constructive force for 
the promotion of human happiness.” 


146 





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re) 11 eH | I I ID 


The History of Houston's Municipal Golf Course 


HANKS TO A PROGRESSIVE city administration that realized the values of 
healthful outdoor recreation. Mayor Oscar F. Holcombe and the City Commis- 
sioners in the early part of 1922 took favorable action upon a request for a munici- 
pal golfing course in Hermann Park. Among the early active workers in this movement 
was Kenneth Todd, whose devoted interest and untiring efforts were a factor in the prog- 
ress of the undertaking. In the Spring of that year work began in a modest way and was 
kept up for more than a year under the direction of Park Superintendent Brock, E. R. 
Spotts, George Rotan and Willie Maguire. In July, 1923, 16 of the 18 holes originally 
designed were dedicated to the public. Owing to dredging operations and other reasons, 
two holes, the 16th and the 17th were not available for play during the last half of 1923 
nor during the first half of 1924. 


Construction costs were kept to a minimum by services offered by Messrs. Spotts, 
Rotan and Maguire. These three veteran golfers of the Houston Country Club gave 
their time to the laying out of the municipal course. After laborers were put to work 
clearing paths for the fairways, the advisory committee appointed by Mayor Holcombe 
saw to it that the original plans were followed out. Through long summer months they 
visited the course and gave freely of suggestions that would have been expensive if a 
golfing architect had been imported to do the work. 


After the formal opening of the public course, Harry T. Kendall was named chair- 
man of an administrative committee. Mr. Kendall was instrumental in bringing John 
Bredemus to the course as professional in charge. More recent improvement work has 
been supervised by Bredemus. Upon finding some of the putting greens too small to care 
for the great amount of play over them, he planned an increase in their area. 

Unlike some of the municipal courses in other cities, the Houston course is equipped 
with grass greens instead of sand. The grass type is much the better of the two, but 
sand is elsewhere substituted because of the smaller initial cost and subsequent upkeep. 
Houstonians who took up golf after the opening of the course gave unanimous endorse- 
ment to the grass greens. 

On certain Saturdays, Sundays and holidays since July 1923, as many as 600 men 
and women have enjoyed golf on the Houston public course. This is a number con- 
siderably in excess of the number that plays over a private course during a day. 

In order that the course may be self-sustaining a nominal greens fee of 25 cents is 
charged for each round, excepting on two mornings of each week when there is no charge 
whatever. Neither is there any charge for golfers who begin their rounds before 7 a. m., 
or 6 p. m. In the long summer days scores of men, women and children avail them- 
selves of these early and late hours. 

Public park golfers in Houston are permitted to reserve starting time for days ahead. 
For each reservation of this kind an additional fee of 10 cents is charged. Through such 
an arrangement players may plan twosomes or foursomes a week ahead. Their reserved 
time is listed in a book kept for that purpose and when the time arrives the starter 
calls off the names. 


149 


°C Hi ot HA HN NN I A NH NN NN NT HN YH I A AIRED @ 9 


Only half the starting periods may be reserved; the other half being held open to 
serve the remainder of the public. Under the plan of operation matches are started 
away at intervals of five minutes, or twelve matches to the hour. Six of these twelve 
periods may be reserved. Players without reservations must await their turn in leaving 
the first tee. It is a matter of first come, first served. On certain large days in the history 
of the course as many as 50 players have been awaiting their turn early in the day. This 
number has increased as the day has lengthened. 


Inasmuch as the same persons have played over: the Houston public course many 
times it is impossible to give the exact figures showing how many individuals have 
availed themselves of the game that the city officials have made possible for the masses. 
During the late summer and fall of 1923 the average number of daily players ran up to 
200 and in 1924 there was a healthy increase as the army of local golfers continued to 
grow. Many of the beginners were men who had formerly turned to other games for 
sport. The number of those who took up golf and then quit is negligible. By May 1924, 
the number of devotees on the Hermann Park course ran into the thousands. Two such 
courses would have been as crowded as one. Yet when the original measure came up for 
discussion at a meeting of City Council, none figured the game would so soon become 
such a thriving activity. 


All stations and all walks of life are represented by those who play over this course. 
Hundreds of the first to play there were men and women whose income were not sufficient 
to maintain memberships in the private clubs of the community. 


Growth of public golf has spread like wildfire for there is an appeal and a charm to 
the game that has been characterized as irresistible. Contrary to beliefs of former days 
the game is inexpensive; its attractions manifold. Many of the Houston golfing novices 
were content to use four clubs while learning the rudiments. As they acquired skill 
they sought better equipment which will last for years with proper care. 


The course itself. offers an excellent test of golf. It is not what any one would term 
an easy one. The first nine holes have a yardage of 3,235 and include two par 3 holes 
measuring 130 and 190 yards; five par 4 holes measuring 340, 345, 425, 415 and 435 
yards. Par for the nine is 36. 


The seven holes on the inside measure 2.310 and have the following distances: num- 
ber 10 is 375 yards, par 4; number 11 is 185 yards, par 3; number 12 is 360 yards, par 
4; number 13 is 400 yards, par 4; number 14 is 470 yards, par 5; number 15 is 95 yards 
par 3; number 16, later to be known as number 18, is 425 yards, par 4. The new holes 
on which work was in progress in the early summer months of 1924 wil become num- 
bers 16 and 17. Each will have a par of 4. 


The course calls for many good second shots if the greens are to be reached in two. 
The ninth and last holes demand not only distance, but placing the tee shots. 


The course is not over-trapped, but there is sufficient trouble in wait for the player 
who fails to follow the line. Along several of the fairways is a fringe of wooded coun- 
try from which it is no easy matter to extricate one’s self. Behind some of the putting 
greens there is a terrifying rough. As a general thing the greens conform to the latest 


150 


AU NN Hm 1 ee FN HH I FN TN Hh it ES HN fF me WiR>es 


style by sloping upward until the rear end is five feet or more above the surrounding 
ground. This slope enables a pitched ball to hold the green. The slope also helps solve 
drainage problems. 


The course as a whole is laid out on rather flat terrain, but where nature dipped the 
landscape in one direction or another advantage has been taken of the depressions and 
hazards have been created. Some of the holes are excellent from every golfing stand- 
point. Others may be a trifle severe through a lack of width, but this is a detail. They 
may be broadened at any time. 


Several of the holes belong to the “dogleg” type which hides the green from the 
tee. The third belongs in this class, yet a long tee shot slightly hooked will negotiate 
the bend in the fairway. The twelfth is of similar pattern. 


In February the Houston Municipal course was put to a rugged test by forty or 
more professionals who were attracted by a two-day open tournament at the end of 
which $2,000 was distributed in cash prizes. First honors went to Joe Kirkwood, the 
Australian trick shot maker. He played the course four times in a total of 259 strokes, 
just seven above par. On the first hole he had two “eagles” a “birdie” and a par. Many 
of the game’s best known professionals were in Houston for this competition which may 
become an annual event. 


Visitors from distant cities where public golf courses have been in operation for years 
have praised the Houston course and have marveled at the great amount of play devel- 
oped in less than one year. They said some of their own courses were too cramped and 
that it was refreshing to play on links where wood was often needed for a second shot. 


The Houston fairways are turfed with Bermuda grass, a hardy species that affords 
an excellent lie for the ball. As the course grows older this turf will improve in texture, 
but wonders have already been accomplished at a small cost. Where an 18 hole private 
-course costs in the neighborhood of $90,000, the Houston public links were presented to 
the public at a cost of considerably less than half that amount. It has been estimated 
that the income in greens fees will not only defray upkeep costs, but will also help pay 
some of the original expense which was the heaviest. Part of the course was cut out through 
a tangle of stunted trees and over sections where rain water backed up. All this ground 
has been well drained and golf can be played at all times except after continued heavy 
rains. 


The course is within the boundaries of picturesque Hermann Park and about three 
and a half miles distant from the business center. 


Among the accommodations offered is a club house containing lockers and shower 
baths. The golf shop occupies one corner of the building. Owing to the heavy play 
which is becoming heavier each month a new and larger club house is to be erected. 
The original one was paid for with donations made by business men of the community. 
These donations reached $7,000 as trustee Mr. Spotts handled the fund and filed a com- 
plete report showing all disbursements. 


Some of the contributions made to help in the construction work ranged as high as 
a thousand dollars. They were made by large industrial companies whose officials 
realized the value of the game. 


tol 


£8 1 1 hh NN NH | I 8 


George Rotan was the first to win a citywide championship on the Municipal 
course. Such a tournament is to be an annual fixture. There will also be an annual 
tournament between the public course players. Golf beginners will also have meets of 
their own. 


Boys of the city are showing a great aptitude at golf on the public course. That 
two of them should be the first to accomplish holes in one is more or less of a tribute 


to their skill, During the school periods each Saturday morning is a free morning at 
the course. 


This municipal course was the first city playground ever dedicated to the grown-up 
element by a city administration. In the past many playgrounds were provided for chil- 
dren and boys, but men and women were practically forgotten in the general schemes, In 
those days administrative bodies had not been “sold” in regard to golf. Today there is 
a great reformation in ideas. This has been brought about by the continuous play in 
which all classes have indulged since the facilities were offered. Hundreds of women 
who were inclined to scoff at golf as a man’s diversion a few years ago are now listed 
as among the regular disciples. In the broad outdoors the virtues of the pastime are be- 
ing brought home daily to the rugulars and the novices. 




















obit 1 hh | HH 


The Houston Foundation 


HE Houston Foundation possesses features that distinguish it from the Welfare De- 
Ap partments of other American cities. It came into existence by ordinance in 1915, in 
response to a wide-spread feeling that there should be an official body made compe- 
tent by law to receive and administer bequests to the City of Houston. Examples were nu- 
merous, and sometimes striking, of funds left for public purposes being squandered or ap- 
plied without consideration of their best uses. There is little control over private trus- 





Dr. J. W. Slaughter, 
Director. 


tees and nothing to insure that their use of funds will‘ really advance the public wel- 
fare. The Houston Foundation was therefore created to meet this need. 


It consists of a board appointed in a manner to give continuity through changes of 
administration and yet to remain responsible to the citizens and government of Houston. 
The board is, first of all a public trusteeship, possessed of expert knowledge of the 
City’s needs in the welfare field, ready to advise anyone contemplating a bequest for pub- 
lic purposes, and able to give assurance that such bequests would be administered for 
the public benefit according to the desires of the donor. 


Secondly the Foundation constitutes the City’s Department of social welfare, carry- 
ing on the activities usual to such departments. It has charge of the administration of 
the Municipal Hospital and the Tuberculosis Hospital. In addition, it maintains a free 
employment service. 


153 


<< Sl— A LS LO lh | EH Hl | HH ll LL fH | | 1 —— Hmm Kham IRD 0 » 


The third function of the Foundation is to provide connection between the munici- 
pal government and the private welfare agencies. Considerable aid is received from the 
the public treasury by agencies for relief, nursing, and the care of dependent and delin- 
quent children. The Foundation Board has with these a relationship of general super- 
vision. It inspects their accounts and requires that standards of economy and efficiency 
be maintained. With the group that does not receive financial aid from the City, the 
Foundation serves as an agency of endorsement. It protects the public from fraudulent 
solicitation and gives assurance that a meritorious agency deserves support after exami- 
nation of its accounts and methods. 


Because so many lines of activity unite in the work of the Foundation, social wel- 
fare activities in Houston operate with little duplication of efforts and with a minimum 
of friction. There is probably no other city in the United States that presents so close 
a co-operation between public and private agencies, or does so much with its welfare re- 
sources as Houston. 


In its function as a public trusteeship, the Foundation Board has endeavored to for- 
ward the settlement of the will of the late Judge E. P. Hill, in which the Foundation was 
made a legatee. The executors are co-operating to this end, and there is reason to hope 
that the welfare work of Houston will soon be aided by the bequest of this generous 
benefactor. 


The Board has kept close watch over the agencies that receive appropriations from 
the city treasury. It can testify to a high degree of efficiency in all of them, and notably 
in the Social Service Bureau and Faith Home. These, together with nearly all other 
social welfare agencies have been placed on a much better basis than formerly for se- 
curing public support. The community chest method of finance has increased the effi- 
ciency of executives by freeing them from financial worries and enabling them to plan 
their work on an assured budget. The Foundation Board was active in promoting the 
Community Chest, and has given important assistance in ‘its campaigns, for funds, as 
well as office accommodation. 


The Municipal Hospital has operated through the year within its budget allowance, 
including repairs to the temporary buildings it has occupied. During the year work has 
progressed on the new Jefferson Davis Hospital, constructed jointly by the City and the 
County, and the institution opened the first of March 1925. This institution, which in 
organization and equipment, and with the generous contribution of staff service by Hous- 
ton physicians, is accounted one of the best, will then have a first rate plant able te 
care for one hundred and fifty patients. This hospital will contain a psychopathic ward, 
which will end the deplorable confinement of the insane in the County jail. It may be 
expected that, with the Hermann Hospital coming soon into operation, the City-County 
institution will be able to meet the problem of the indigent sick. 


During the year a new unit for advanced white patients was added to the Tubercu- 
losis Hospital This increase of twenty-four beds, bringing the capacity of the whole | 
hospital of four units to eighty-eight beds, makes it possible for Houston to approxi- 
mate adequate hospitalization of those suffering with tuberculosis. This growth, how- 
ever, has made the facilities for administration, housing of nurses, and kitchen service 


154 


M1 L$ —$— OY NT HF || | | Wires 


wholly inadequate, and the Board is glad to announce that appropriations have been 
made and plans drawn which during the next year will increase the efficient operation 
of the hospital by the addition of an administration building. 


The Board continues, as in past years, its work of examining the status and work of 
institutions, agencies and individuals who appeal to the public for support. Much more 
could be done in the way of preventing imposture if contributors would insists upon the 
endorsement of the Foundation Board before giving ear to any appeal. 


The work of the Free Employment Bureau has been expanded by the addition of 
an assistant to the examiner in charge. This Bureau has made for itself a place of wide 
and recognized usefulness to the City. It is now the chief means of placement for all 
classes of labor, and particularly common labor, It contributes the best of co-operation 
with other welfare activities in the special efforts made to secure employment fer those 
who are handicapped. In this way it has assisted many families to avoid distress by 
their own efforts. 


The organization chart of the Foundation shows clearly the varied and extensive ac- 
tivities and numerous services rendered by this Department. 




















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Every year the City of Houston appropriates large sums of money toward the maintenance 
of a score or charitable institutions and among those receiving the benefits are the De- 
Pelchin Faith Home and Harris County Training School for boys. 

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Peer orporation Court 


HE Corporation Court has jurisdiction within the limits of the City of Houston, 
T with power to hear and determine all cases of violation of the ordinances of the 

City. All cases coming before this Court are tried and disposed of in open Court 
and no pleas of guilty accepted except by the Judge of the Corporation Court and all 
pleas must be made to the Judge by offenders or their legal representatives. 


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Above: Judge A. C. Winborn, 
Judge of the Corporation Court. 


Below: Lucien M. Andler, 
Clerk of the Corporation Court. 


This Court holds no terms and is at all times open for the transaction of business. 
The Judge sets the time for the trial of cases. 


The Judge keeps a docket which is known as the “Minutes of the Corporation Court” 
and in this minute book is noted all continuances, trials by the Court or by jury, judg- 
ments and whether for dismissal or for a, fine and costs, with the amount of the fine, new 
trials and notices of appeal. 


In the Corporation Court all proceedings are commenced by the filing of a com- 
plaint, duly sworn to before any person authorized by law to administer oaths and filed 
with the Clerk of the Court. 


152 


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The complaint bears the name of the person charged with an offense, or if the name 
cannot be obtained, then a general description of the person, as near as may be, the na- 
ture of the offense and the time and place where the offense was committed. 


If the defendant happens not to be in the custody of an officer or before the Court 
in person then a warrant is issued, directed to the Chief of Police, or any policeman of the 
City, commanding the Chief or policeman to forthwith arrest the person named or de- 
scribed in the warrant and to bring the person before the Judge of the Court for a hear- 
ing upon the complaint. 


The complaint is read to the defendant, who shali plead thereto and the plea is en- 
tered upon the docket by the Judge. If the person pleads guilty the Judge assesses 
such fine and costs as may be authorized by law or the ordinances of the City of Hous- 
ton. Ifa plea of not guilty is entered to the complaint, a trial shall be had, either by 
the Court or by a jury as the defendant may elect. 


The following statement covering the activities of this Court, for the year 1924, will 
show the large volume of business handled during the period: 


CASES TRIED IN CORPORATION COURT AND HOW DISPOSED OF 
FROM JANUARY THE 1, 1924 TO DECEMBER 31, 1924. 








Month Cases Docketed Convictions Dismissed Pending 
Januarys so cee 1,326 959 367 
Hebria tye.) 2c. 1,622 L22 345 5 
Ma Rees oe oth ee 1,291 917 372 ae 
Apralincs ta. seen 1,647 1253 387 7 
Mayite sso nee 1,465 1,202 262 1 
] Ne ere Ca ete 1,699 1,382 307 10 
Epa yg ie an are ek 1,036 719 299 18 
ALOUST (iron. tek 1,631 1,287 326 18 
Septembenry © mae 1,904 T5939 BD 30 
October i. ve crear 1,145 784 305 28 
November la oee ee 1,051 674 349 28 
Decenipet sae 881 530 262 S9 
‘hota Moers 16,698 1251e 3,944 236 











Total Fines Assessed During the Year 1924... .$83,967.10 


The Judge of the Corporation Court, who is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed 
by the City Council, presides over this Court and sessions are held in the handsome 
Court Room located on the Fourth Floor of the Fire-Police Station. 


16C 


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The Department of Architecture 


HE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE was created by the City Council in 
1912. Since its creation the department has been a great factor in the success uf 
many constructive programs arranged and completed by the City of Houston. 


The activities of this department consist of the preparation of plans and _ specifica- 


tions and supervision of construction of buildings erected by the City of Houston. In 
some special cases, however, the City Council deems it advisable to procure the services 





W. A. Dowdy, 
City Architect. 


of architects in private practice, as consulting or associate architects, on work requiring 
this service, and occasionally supervision of work only is performed, the outside archi- 
tects being engaged to prepare plans and specifications. 


Some idea of the wide range of work handled by this department may be obtained 
by an examination of the following list of buildings planned and supervised by this de- 
partment since the first day of January 1923: 

FOR THE PARK DEPARTMENT: 
First unit of the Municipal Zoo, a $15,000.00 primates building. 


.A twenty-six thousand dollar park building, containing boys and girls shelter pa- 
vilions, bandstand, refreshment rooms, collonades, rest room, etc., located in Root Square. 


A seven thousand dollar refreshment house for Hermann Park. 


161 


UE HRD oe 


FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT: 


Two modern bungalow ward fire stations, costing $10,000.00 each. 


FOR THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY BOARD: 
A fifty thousand dollar branch library located on the North Side of the City. 


FOR PHE CITY AND COUNTY HOSPITALS BOARD: 

A four hundred thousand dollar modern fireproof joint City and County Hospital, 
known as the Jefferson Davis Hospital. 

In addition to erection of new buildings, service is rendered all departments in the 
way of handling repairs and renewals of existing buildings, a large amount of this char- 
acter of work being done. 

This department is under the direction of the Mayor and City Commissioners, and 
there are employed besides the City Architect, sufficient help from time to time, required” 
to capably discharge the duties of the department. 

The architectural work handled in this department, for the City of Houston, is cost- 
ing the City 214% of the total cost of the buildings, which represents a saving of 24% 
of architectural fees, should this work be given to outside architects, engaged for the 
purpose. 

In the pursuance of his duties the City Architect has served practically every Mu- 
nicipal Board in the City and has received their cooperation at all times. 

While a small department, the department of Architecture is ‘one of importance and 
serves a wide range rendering a valuable service to the taxpayers. 


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The Houston Soctal Service Bureau 


EN years ago the group of activities now comprising the Social Service Bureau 
T were scattered agencies, each struggling for maintenance. In fact, at the time of 

the formation of the Bureau, the former Associated Charities, now represented by 
the Relief and Service Department, had gone out of existence because of lack of funds. 


In 1916, five different agencies came together to form the Bureau. There has been 
some re-arrangement of function from time to time to meet the needs of a growing com- 





Dr. E. H. Willisford, 
Superintendent 


munity, the policy being to drop, as opportunity afforded, the educational and group of ac- 
tivities and to retain and develop those which dealt primarily with individuals. As it stands 
at present, the Bureau consists of the following departments: 
(1) RELIEF AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT: 
(a) Family service and rehabilitation. 
(b) Assistance to needy families and individuals. 
. (c) Special diet for sick and tubercular patients. 
| (2) PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING DEPARTMENT: 
(a) Bedside nursing. 
(b) School examinations and follow up work. 
(c) Health work in institutions. 


163 


mH HN NE | HF HH Hf | LH HH IR 0 0 


(3) CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT: 
(a) Investigation and court work in cases of neglect and Beg to children. 


(b) Placing out and supervision of homeless children. 
(4) WOMEN’S AND GIRL’S PROTECTIVE DEPARTMENT: 


(a) Care of friendless girls. 
(b) Follow up and rehabilitation work among patients of the Detention Ward. 
(c) Maintenance of the Lodge for temporary care of women and children. 


(5) SETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT: 
(a) Educational and recreational work among Mexicans. 
(b) Rusk Day Nursery for white children. 
(c) Colored settlement with recreational clubs, day nursery, kindergarten and 
play ground’s activities. 


Several years ago, the outline of this organization had been formed. The aim is 
to have either within the Bureau or through co-operation with other agencies means of 
caring for each form of distress as quickly and completely as possible. Thus, health 
problems are met by the.Nursing Department and the City Clinics and hospitals; neglect ~ 
of children, by the Child Welfare Department and the County Courts; destitution by the 
Relief and Service Department with the aid of such other agencies as are needed to re- 
move the cause of distress; a stranded girl by the Girl’s and Women’s Protective Depart- 
and the Lodge. 

Up to the present time, the central office has seemed to serve the needs of the City 
fairly adequate. As the City develops, a larger work will have to be undertaken. 

The Social Service Bureau has completed its ninth year as a departmental society. 
It was at first an experiment. From the point of view of efficiency and co-operation, this 
form of organization has proved itself. In a growing, changing community the details 
of the work will constantly vary, but unification of the work, coming as it did while the 
work and the community were young, has saved the personnel, the time and nerve con- 
suming difficulties which have confronted many of the older communities in their effort 
to overcome bad beginnings. 

The Social Service Bureau is the large case work organization of the city. It is city- 
wide, non-sectarian, without discrimination as to race, color or creed. The Bureau is a 
private organization supported in part by public funds. It is governed by a Board of 
directors and each department has its departmental committee. The chairman of these 
committees, together with the officers of the board, form the executive committee. A 
very complete co-ordination is thus made possible. 

The fact that city funds for welfare purposes are expended jointly with the funds 
raised by the Community Chest, prevents the common conflict between public and private 
agencies. 

In so far as its funds from the City, the Bureau is subject to the supervision of the 
Houston Foundation, reports on work and expenditures being submitted from time to 
time. The Foundation has rendered valuable service in the way of advice and of inter- 
pretation of the work of the Bureau to the public. 


164 


8 CU tt tt 8 tt ih tt th i 1 fH tH 1 


Relief and Service Department 


The aim of this department is the upbuilding of family life. Where any elements 
of normal family life are lacking, the situation must be studied, and constructive meas- 
ures used. Health problems, unemployed, delinquency, old age, poor management, un- 
dernourishment, domestic relation problems, intemperance and its twin evil, bootlegging, 
imprisonment of the wage earner, have all to be dealt with in handling family problems. 
The fact that relief is given from this department, complicates rather than simplifies the 
the situation. Relief, rightly given, may promote and elevate family life. Wrongly 
given, it may rob it of self-respect and independence. The statistical report shows 1915 
families, involving 4396 individuals, handled in this department. It is interesting to 
_ note that 373 children whose problems would otherwise have been solved by institutional 
care or separation, have been maintained with their mothers. 


Public Health Nursing Department 


The Public Health Nursing Department combines district bedside nursing with school 
nursing. The school work consists of examination for contagion, 84,677 having been made 
last year, and examinations for physical defects, the number of examinations reaching 18,- 
513, 20,695 defects were detected, 2983 were remedied, through this department. Educa- 
tional health work, and nutrition work were an integral part of this program. Health con- 
tests and health literature have stimulated interest. As a direct result of the work, the 
schools, though crowded, have been more free from contagion than in any year past and 
absentees on account of illness, have been fewer. A dental clinic has been conducted at 
Rusk school. 


Each year a Child Health Conference has been held in connection with the Child 
Welfare League, the nursing service and follow up work being supplied by the Public 
Health Nursing Department, 401 white children, 58 Mexican, and 117 negro children were 
examined during 1924. Twelve nurses are constantly busy in the field. 


Settlement Department 


Rusk settlement represents one of the initial welfare movements of Houston. As 
the character of the neighborhood has changed in the last few years, the settlement find- 
ing itself in the center of a group of Mexican neighbors, has given special attention to 
these strangers within out gates. A Spanish speaking worker is able to gain their con- 
fidence, to make many adjustments and give healthful advice. Mother’s Clubs, Boy’s 
Clubs, and special classes are conducted. Baths have been opened, both in Rusk and 
Hawthorne Schools, over 10,098 free baths having been given last year. 


Rusk Day Nursery connected with the settlement, cares for the children of working 
mothers, giving them a warm luncheon at noon, following by a bath anda nap. The old- 
_er children are sent to kindergarten and school. An average of 33 are cared for daily. 


Bethlehem Settlement performs a similar service among the colored people, con- 
ducting its own kindergarten during the winter months and playground work during the 
summer. It also conducts a day nursery, having an average attendance of 22. 


165 


© I 8 NNN NN NL NN Nh HH RI 


Child Welfare Department 


The welfare work consists of the care of neglected and dependent children, 815 child- 
ren representing 401 families have been helped by this department during the past year. 
These are families so broken that there is no way of continuing family life, at least, 
for the time being. A hopeful feature, however, is that 134 children were later returned 
to parents or relatives, the home having been re-established. A return to health or a 
remarriage accounts for some of these cases. In other cases a return to the family would 
be the greatest of calamities. In one case, the Bureau had the co-operation of the grand- 
parents in placing a little girl in a denominational school in North Texas, because the 
father, mother, step-father, aunt and uncle were all incurable drug addicts. 


Girl's and Women’s Protective Department 


The unprotected girl, the unmarried mother, the incompetent country girl who seeks 
employment in the city, the venereally diseased girl, who has found her way to the quar- 
antine ward, furnish a large proportion of the cases requiring the attention of this de- 
partment. These girls are befriended, sheltered, advised, often with most gratifying re- 
sults, 850 women and girls were assisted. Regular occupation, returned to the home, 
training often voluntarily requested, in the county or state training schools, help many 
of these girls to take up normal life. The unmarried mothers are, where possible, en- 
couraged and helped to keep their babies. Where circumstances make this impossible, the 
babies are placed in selected homes by the Child Placing Societies. The Lodge is main- 
tained as a temporary shelter for women and children. 


The extensive activities of the Bureau are handled by a corps of interested and train- 
ed workers under the supervision of an efficient and experienced superintendent. 


166 





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The Houston Public Library 


N A COMMUNITY where there is a good public library no boy or girl, man or 

woman can be said to lack educational opportunity. The public library is America’s 

continuation school and contributes substantially to the dissemination of information 
and knowledge throughout the community. 


The Houston Public Library traces its beginning back to 1848 when Houston had 
a population of barely 2,000. At that time a group of young men started a Lyceum, 
and one of the purposes was “to diffuse knowledge among its members, intelligence and 





Miss Julia Ideson, 
Librarian. 


information, by a library.” The Lyceum library was carried on more or less continuous- 
ly privately until 1895 when the Ladies Reading Club issued a call to establish it as a 
public library and its privileges were opened to non-members on payment of $3.00 a 
year. By 1898 through the Club’s efforts the library was established in the Mason Build- 
ing and financial support from the City was sought, which was given in 1899 when the 
City fathers appropriated $200.00 a month for the maintenance on condition that the li- 
brary be made free to the entire citizenship of Houston. In this year also Mr. Carnegie 
in response to an appeal from the Women’s Club, offered the City $50,000.00 for a Car- 
negie Building on condition that the City agree to appropriate $4,000.00 a year for main- 
tenance and to provide a site. Thereupon, all clubs of the City at the call of the President 
of the Ladies Reading Club met and formed a City Federation whose first work was the 
raising of funds for a site for the library. In June, 1900, the City agreed to make the 


169 


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necessary annual appropriation and the effects of the Houston Lyceum were transferred 
and conveyed to the Houston Lyceum and Carnegie Library Association, chartered under 
the laws of the State of Texas. A sum of $7,880.00 was raised and the site on which the 
present Carnegie Building stands was purchased and construction begun in 1900. In Oc- 
tober, 1903, the library was transferred from the Mason Building to the present pe 
and on March 3rd, 1904, the doors were opened. 


The Library was steadily developed from that time. When in 1921 the citizens of 
Houston voted for a tax for library maintenance and again in 1922 voted bonds for the 
first unit of a new library building, they gave the support necessary for the develop- 
ment of such a library system as our City should have. Today the library has a pro- 
gram of extension and building that is in keeping with the rapid growth and development 
of the City itself. In 1903 all its activities were centered in the Carnegie building; in 1924 
it had four branches and large quarters on the fifth floor of the County Court House used 
as temporary headquarters. (For these it is indebted to the courtesy of the County Com- 
missioners.) It has also five small stations in stores and churches, and circulating col- 
lections for books in nineteen public schools. The Library had 13,778 volumes in 1903. 
At the end of 1924 it had 98,279. In 1904 it loaned for home reading 59,750; in 1924 
it loaned in all 420,628. The North Side Branch circulated in 1924 almost as many books 
as the Carnegie Library did the first year of its existence. Taking the number of books 
issued as a basis for comparison, the library has had an increase in twenty years of 800%. 


New Main Library Building 


The paramount issue for the past three years has been the new main building. In 
May 1922 bonds to the amount of $200,000.00 were voted for the first unit of a new main 
building, the present one having become greatly outgrown some years ago. It was neces- 
sary in order to have a harmonious design to plan the entire building as it would ulti- 
mately be erected at an estimated cost of $700,000.00 and after the whole plan was 
worked out to decide what part could best be completed as the first unit with the Ree 
000.00 available. 


After considerable investigation Cram and Ferguson of Boston were chosen as Archi- 
tects with Watkin and Glover of Houston Associate Architects, a choice the Board be- 
lieved would assure the undertaking architectural service of the highest order and one 
that has been amply justified in the beautiful design submitted and the well planned in- 
teriors. The building as designed by Mr. Ralph Adams Cram is beautiful, of Spanish Re- 
naissance style, a style appropriate to this section of the country, to be constructed of 
stone and brick and tile. The interior arrangement has been carefully studied, especially 
with a view to convenience and economy of administation and to giving reading rooms 
and work rooms the advantage of the ever prevailing gulf breeze during the summer. 


In November, 1922, the Bagby Block, between McKinney and Lamar and Smith and 
Brazos, 250 feet square, was purchased by the City for the site of the new library. It is 
only eight blocks from Main and Texas, the center of. the City and forms a beautiful 
site with its fine trees and shrubbery overlooking Martha Herman Square. 


However, when the first unit was decided upon the Trustees realized that it would 
not give nearly as much space as would be needed as soon as the building was con- 


170 


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structed. They therefore asked the Mayor and City Council to submit another bond issue 
for $300,000. to complete the second and third units, the second unit being the stack 
room, and the third unit the auditorium and museum. This issue was voted on favor- 
ably June 10, 1924, and as the architects had already proceeded with the completion of 
the drawings, ground was broken toward the end of June. As the building rises it gives 
promise of being all that has been hoped for it of beauty, convenience and accommoda- 
tion. 


Branches 


In June 1923, the Board of Trustees entered into a contract with the Presbyterian 
Church for the sale of the Carnegie Library Building at McKinney and Travis for $100,- 
000.00. The proceeds of this sale are being used for the construction of two branch library 
buildings to cost $50,000.00 each, one on the North Side and one in Houston Heights. 
These will replace the little temporary structures built in 1921. 


In February 1924, the City purchased a beautiful site on the North Side for the lo- 
cation of the North Side Branch. A block of ground 200 by 400 feet in size located be- 
tween Henry and Quitman Streets. The building is Colonial type architecture, red brick, 
with white pillars. It is spacious on the inside and very attractive in its setting of oak 
trees. It was completed in January, 1925, and will be called the Carnegie branch in com- 
memoration of the gift of $50,000.00 made by Mr. Carnegie to the City of Houston in 
1899. 


There was some delay over the site of the Houston Heights Branch but a plot of 
ground 150 by 150 feet on 13th and Boulevard was finally decided upon. The plans 
call for a hollow tile and stucco building of Italian Renaissance design. The building is at- 
tractive both inside and out and will probably be ready for occupance sometime during the 
summer of 1925. The need for branches in the more distant parts of the City has been 
shown by the great use that has been made by these two. These branches should be the 
beginning for a branch system that will place a library branch within walking distance of 
practically all residents of the City. 


The Colored Library started in 1909, on the initiative of a group of Colored citizens 
with the cooperation of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Public Library, a grant 
of $15,000.00 was made for a library building by the Carnegie Cooperation and a sub- 
stantial building of brick and stone was constructed at Frederick and Robin Streets 
near the Colored High School, whose doors were opened in the spring of 1913. The 
library has now a collection of 8,174 books, 8,844 card holders and in 1924 loaned 57,516 
books. The colored population of Houston is estimated at about thirty thousand. 


Statistics for the Year 1924 


The greatest increase during the year has been in reference work. The library has 
cooperated with a number of extension courses for study and reading. It has also sup- 
plied books freely for the supplementary reading of the High school students. 

During the year 1924 there were added 8,659 volumes, 2,133 volumes were worn out, 
lost or missing and have been withdrawn, making the total at the end of the year 98,279 
volumes in all branches. 


171 


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The North Side has at present 5,457 volumes and Houston Heights 5,575, the Col- 
ored Branch 8,174, the Carnegie main branch and the Administration Center, 79,073. 


The library and its branches are active centers as anyone spending a few moments at 
the loan desk observes. The periodical rooms are largely patronized and many questions 
are answered by the Reference Department. There were loaned from the Library 420,- 
628 volumes, which is a gain over the year 1923 of 19,289. Of the volumes loaned 234,- 
365 were from the Carnegie main branch, 52,426 from the Houston branch, 55,884 from 
the North Side Branch and 57,516 from the Colored branch, all branches showing an 
increase. The circulation in the nineteen public schools and stations in Faith Home, 
Hyde Park Lutheran Church, Larkin Street Methodist Church, Levy Brothers and 
Woodland M. E. Church was 20,437 volumes. The percentage of non-fiction this year 
at the Main Library adult department is 30% which is 2% better than last year. While 
the Libray wishes to increase the studious use of books, the wide circulation of good fit- 
tion is of value also. “Fiction, if decent”, says a noted librarian, “needs no more excuse 


than parks.” 


The privilege of borrowing books ‘is extended to all citizens making application for 
the use of the Library and being identified. 


On December 31st, 1924, there were 38,838 active card holders. Of the 8,582 appli- 
cations for library cards this year, 967 were at Houston Heights Branch, making the 
total number of card holders in that branch 3,322. There were 759 at the North Side 


Branch, making the total number of card holders there 3,195 and 6,344 from the Carnegie 
main Library; and 512 from the Colored Branch, making total card holders there 8,844. 


The Children’s Department has always been one of the most popular of the Library. 
There were loaned from the Norma Meldrum Children’s Room 68,264 books. The Chil- 
dren’s Room in the Main Library is named in honor of Norma Meldrum, a little girl who 
died in 1902 whose father Mr. Norman Meldrum, has generously endowed it. Mr. Mel- 
drum has made a number of gifts to the room through the years since its opening, this 
year having added to the income of the fund five hundred dollars for the immediate pur- 
chase of children’s books. With the opening of the branches the increase in number of 
books loaned the children has been great. In 1924 182,915 juvenile books were loaned. 
The Children’s Librarian and the branch librarians visit the schools and invite the chil-— 
dren to come to the Library in order to extend the knowledge of the privileges of the li- 
brary as widely as possible. 


The Children’s Department has-cooperated with the schools in supplying books for 
the required reading and has had bookmarks printed, one side having a list of books and 
on the other side information as to “How to get your books” and “How to take care of — 
Books.” 

Children’s Book Week which is observed throughout the Country each November 
for the purpose of stimulating interest in good books for children was observed in the 
Children’s Department and the branches by exhibits of books, story hours and contests 
which seemed to be of City-wide interest. 


172 


Ot — — 1 1—— 1 HH 1 LH Ce Se he he Ee Le Le Lh hl hh | | | fj || * | || A om HH] mH} —e  HY  HH Wide 


‘ 


Ga RTS 


In 1903 the Library was the recipient of a gift known as the Circle M Library. This 
collection, made by a native son of Houston, consists of about 8,000 volumes at present 
catalogued, valuable files and curios. Several thousand volumes have been added since 
which will be catalogued and made available as soon as space is provided in the new 
building. The collection is rich in American literature and history and increases the 
value of the library for reference and research. 


Houston people have made many gifts of books to the libraries. The library acknowl- 
edges gratefully the gifts received; books 1494, subscriptions to 27 newspapers including 
all local ones and 102 magazines. Professor W. F. Cummings presented for the Mu- 
seum a rare and valuable stone image totem from a Missouri mound. The earliest direc- 
tories of Houston, now exceedingly rare, came from the Bonner McCraven collection. 
It is only with such support from the citizenship that the Library will acquire needed local 
material and it is hoped that when the library is finished Houston people will consider 
the matter of making it a repository for historical souvenirs, documents and papers that 
relate to the community’s history. 


Westheimer Natural History Museum 


An important development of the year 1923 was the acceptance by the Trustees of 
the Attwater Natural History collection, presented by Mr. Sigmund J. Westheimer, on 
condition that space be set aside for it in the new building. This collection was pur- 
chased by Mr. Westheimer as the nucleus of a Natural History Museum that he hopes 
to see established in Houston. During December 1924, in order that some of the birds 
and other specimens might be shown, Mr. Westheimer placed several cases in the West 
' Alcove of the Carnegie Building where they are viewed by patrons of the library. Mr. 
Westheimer’s action in saving the Attwater collection for Houston is appreciated and 
his plan of seeing started here a Natural History Museum, will be fruitful of fine re- 
sults. 


In the four years since the library tax of 244 cents on the hundred dollars valuation 
voted in 1921, has given better financial support and made library extension possible, the 
library’s use has increased nearly 100%. This rapid growth has been hard to provide for 
in the present inadequate quarters and satisfactory service would have been impossible 
had it not been for the energetic and faithful service of the library staff. 


In the building program a fine spirit of cooperation has existed between the Mayor 
and City Commissioners and the Library Board with the one end of accomplishing the 
purpose, of the institution in a most worthy way. 

In October 1921, the Board decided in order to embrace the whole system, to 
change the name of the library to Houston Public Library. 


173 








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The School System 


OUSTON has a free public school system, which has for many years ranked 

high among the school systems of the country. 

But within the last year great changes in the form of management have oc- 
curred, which augurs well for the system in the future. Up until two years ago the 
schools were conducted as a department of the municipal government. 





Dr. E. E. Oberboltzer, 
Superintendent of Schools. 


But. the State Legislature at its last session enacted a law creating the independent 
district of Houston, which includes all the city schools and a large territory north of 
the city, known as old District 25. 


The city now has no official connection with the schools except for purposes of 
economy. The City Tax Department collects the school taxes. But the schools are under 
the complete control of a school board composed of seven members, elective by the 
voters of the district. 


The people more than a year ago approved by an overwhelming majority a bond is- 
sue of $3,000,000 for construction of many new buildings and improvements to existing 
buildings. Plans are now being made for expenditure of this money, which when car- 
riéd out will give Houston the finest school plant of any city its size in the entire South. 

Houston in 1924 had a scholastic population of 35,186. To accommodate this vast 
number of pupils 68 buildings had already been provided, containing 1,079 rooms and 
30,226 desks. The total valuation of school property in the city was $8,936,000. 


177 


ool — | HH 1 HN A HH HH 


To take care of this vast army of children, there were employed 826 full time 
teachers, 27 principles who teach part of the time, eight supervisors, 29 supervising 
principles, 36 supernumeraries, seven part time teachers, or 933 persons engaged in giv- 
ing instruction in the day schools alone. 


In the report for 1923-1924 the superintendent said: “In 1920-21, 25,944 children 
were enrolled in the day schools, and 3,411 were enrolled in the night schools, making a 
total of 25,405 persons who received instruction that year at public expense. In 1921-22 
there were 28,318 children in the day schools and 3,681 persons in the night schools. In 
1922-23 there were 30,400 in the day schools and 3,144 in the night schools, a total of 
34,544 in all.” . 


Some idea of the growth of the schools may be gained by a comparison of them last 
year with 17 years ago, or 1906. That year the total enrollment was only 9,754, which 
has jumped to 34,544 for last year. The schools expended less than $180,000 seventeen 
years ago. Last year the expenses of the Houston schools were $1,763,245. 


The cost per capita for each pupil enrolled in the grade schools last year was $47.- 
83. The cost per capita for high school pupils was $101.26. The cost per capita for 
giving instruction to 4,144 night pupils was $7.96. 

The present schools system includes two senior high schools, four junior high 
schools, and one high school for colored children. In these high schools are offered the 
standard courses required for admittance into the leading colleges and universities of 
the country, or other courses designed to prepare the pupils for commercial and indus- 
trial life. 


There are 56 grammar or grade schools, including eleven kindergartens and two 
schools for sub-normal children. The schools cooperate with the city health department 
in looking after the children’s health and have their own health department, with rigid in- 
spection. 


The public schools also work with the recreation department in furnishing whole- 
some recreation for the pupils and their parents. They also cooperate with all civie and 
patriotic organizations in Americanizing foreigners. 


The city schools and libraries work together in arousing more interest in good books 
and furnishing them both to the pupils and the older members of the families at home. 
The schools of Houston cooperate with the Federal Government, thru the Smith-Hughes 
law, in maintaining extension and part time classes in printing, retail selling and all the 
shop crafts as well as cooking, dress making and millinery. 

A teacher to be eligible to positions in the grades below the high school must have 
had high school training and at least two years of normal or college work in addition. To 
be eligible to a position in the high schools, college graduation and former teaching ex- 
perience are required. 

The schools are well organized, and closely supervised by experts in both the pri- 
mary and intermediate grades in music, penmanship, drawing, domestic science and man- 
ual training. The course of study in both the grade and high schools has been worked 
out carefully, and the high schools rank high among those of the state. The Houston 


178 


High Schools have 28 credits with the State University which is the highest in Texas, 
with the possible exception of Austin high school, located at the seat of the state univer- 
sity. 

A little of the history of the Houston high school is interesting. In 1879 there was 
only one graduate from the high school, a boy. In 1892 the high school had reached 
some proportions and 131 students were enrolled and there were eight graduates, seven 
girls and still one lone boy. 


But the superintendent apologizes for the poor enrollment and says there would 
have been a bigger attendance if there had been more room. 


The city schools of Houston have always had the support of the people. Only once 
did they refuse to vote any amount asked, and that was recently when they rejected a 
bond issue of $3,000,000 because of a number of conflicting reasons. But a few months 
later they came out and adopted the same bond issue by a vote of seven to one. 


The superintendent and school board enjoy the utmost confidence of the-people now 
who never begrudge a dollar spent on the schools, so long as it is economically spent. 


The $3,000,000 building program now under way is nearly all to be expended for 
junior and senior high school buildings, which means Houston is to have the very finest 
high school system in the South. 


A complete survey of the school system has been made and a building program 
mapped out for years in advance, subject to any change, of course, that might be ne- 
cessitated by an unexpected spurt in the growth of the city. 


This survey determines the location of school building based upon the number of 
scholastics in given districts, and their inclination to avail themselves of school facilities. 


The people of Houston are proud of their excellent school system and its contin- 
uous progressive development. 


179 





LR tm Bh eB mm i me mm tf I i Li > ee 


An Analysts of the Port of Houston 


By Charles Crotty, 
Assistant Director of the Port. 


RIOR TO 1825 Buffalo Bayou was used by Indians in canoes, and the first white set- 
Pp tlers along its banks used small sailboats to traverse the waterway to and from the 

Gulf. When steam vessels came into use the stream was utilized to a greater extent 
and in the period from 1840 to 1880 steam packets or sidewheelers were the only reliable 
means of communication between Houston and Galveston. 





Above: Capt. Ben J. C. Allin, 
Director of Port. 
Below: Charles Crotty, 
Asst. Director of Port. 


In 1870-72 the Morgan Line of steamers began a service from Houston to New 
York with a number of sidewheel steamers. When it was found impracticable to dock 
these vessels at Houston a landing place and wharf was built at Clinton, and a short 
line railroad—the “Texas Transportation Line”, now the Texas & New Orleans (Clin- 
ton Branch) was built down north side from Houston to Clinton. 


181 


Cll IN NN Hf HH || | HH | HN! HH ST || HH NY SH Hf HY | 9; || ce Bf | A || | Bs ec BH Wg>e- 


About this time the old Buffalo Bayou Company and the Direct Navigation Com- 
pany were formed and did a thriving business on the channel, handling cotton, lumber 
and general merchandise, as well as passengers, to all points on the waterway between 
Houston and Galveston. Huge barges were used to take cotton to shipside at Galveston 
and to load vessels out beyond the bar before it was deepened sufficiently to let cep draft 
vessels reach the wharves at Galveston. 


The U. S. Government undertook its first improvement of the waterway in 1872 
by cutting through Redfish Reef Bar, while the Buffalo Bayou Company dredged a cut 
through Morgan’s Point and out in the Bay to depth of 12 to 14 feet, this cut being 
purchased by the U. S. Government in 1892. 


With the advent of deep draft vessels in the early eighties and nineties, which were 
loaded outside Galveston Bar by lighters or barges, it was realized that deeper water 
would be required to properly develop a port on the Gulf coast, so work was started on 
the jetties from Galveston Island and Bolivar Point and with dredging to deepen the 
channel across the bar between the jetties, a depth of 20 to 25 feet, was obtained to the 
Galveston wharves. 


As these larger vessels could not come up to Houston the local interests represented 
by the Deepwater Committee began an intensive campaign for a ship channel to Port 
Houston, with the result that on March 3rd, 1899, a project was adopted by the U. S. 
Congress for a channel 25 feet deep, 150 feet wide across Galveston ey and 100 feet 
wide from Morgan’s Point to Houston. 


Work on this project was started in 1902-3 by dredging to depth of 1814 feet. Work 
proceeded intermittently on this project for several years, a depth of 18% feet being ~ 
attained across Galveston Bay and to the turning basin which had been located at the 
head of Long Reach four miles down the Bayou from the center of the City. Many of 
the sharper bends were dredged through making new cuts easily navigated by vessels. 


This 1814 foot channel, however, shoaled considerably and very little navigation was 
possible on this depth, so the Deepwater Committee in 1910 went to Congress with a 
proposition to pay one-half the cost of the work if a ‘project could be approved, and 
funds appropriated to deepen the entire channel to 25 feet under one large contract with 
final acceptance as a whole. This proposition was accepted by Congress and project 
adopted by Act of June 25th, 1910. 


The Harris County Houston Ship Channel Navigation District was then created by 
an Act of the Texas State Legislature and a bond issue for $1,250,000.00 was passed, 
the funds being turned over to the U. S. Treasurer as called for. 


Contract was let to the Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company and actual dredging start- — 
ed June 15th, 1912, and channel 25 feet deep was completed and accepted September 
7th, 1914. 


The first wharf built by the City of Houston at the turning basin was used, though 
not quite completed on August 14th, 1915, by the S. S. “New Orleans” with a general 
cargo, followed on August 19th by the S. S. “Satilla” the first vessel of the Southern 
Steamship Company line between Houston and New York, which line has been in opera- 
tion ever since, changing from New York to Philidelphia in 1918. — ‘ 


182 


oot FB 1h HN 1 | mm 1 | Hf eR a a ae a a ee SY Ea Sy ee et eer 1 ——— Ne Fe ID Oo 


During the period of the war practically all the shipping was diverted from the Gulf 
ports to the North Atlantic for overseas service, so only the Southern Steamship Line 
and a few tank steamers handling oil to and from the refineries on the channel made 
use of the waterway. ) 

Immediately after the war shipping became active and the vessels diverted from the 
Gulf trade during the war were put back on their regular runs as far as practicable. 
However, as Houston was a new port it required considerable activity on the part of 
port officials and local interests to induce steamship agents and particularly the U. S. 
Shipping Board to see the possibilities and opportunities of handling a large amount of 
traffic through this inland port. However, Mr. Daniel Ripley persuaded the Shipping 
Board to send the S. S. “Merrymount” to Houston and this vessel took our first foreign 
shipment of cotton direct from the Port of Houston, At the request of the Shipping 
Board this vessel was insured by the Citizens of Houston in the sum of 3$1,000,000.00. 


This vessel lifted for Liverpool 23,319 bales of cotton sailing in November 1919, and 
this stood as one of the largest shipments from Gulf ports for several years. The vessel 
traversed the channel without difficulty and effectually proved the practicability of 
shipping thru the Port of Houston. This ship was followed by several others, a total of 
45,341 bales being shipped during 1919. Each succeeding year has shown a wonderful in- 
crease in shipments of this one commodity, as will be shown by the following table: 


alee re NCam tt Gas Sik eA Ae as 45,341 Bales 

s Wo) RES 0 MR OAE OM Pane a he at ear 275,079..." 

vA 7 (hab off ile Gi ae) Re aN eRe a ee ae ASS, O15 

sy he a tf Pega oe ral ee aU Ege BCP ara 771,894“ 

a (1, oP RES Rls hte al te AG GA Ai en aE SG D7 Lae 

“ SMO nrg ek wot bs Mees V,283;280) >" 
Part of cotton season from Aug. 1, 1924 

ob” TAS aE One wba DS Ape Se ag va een Me ae eT colar 


In 1920 the Leyland Line and Harrison Line of British steamers made their formal 
entry to this port, being the first foreign owned line to open offices in Houston. This. 
Company has maintained regular sailings thru the Port of Houston since that date. In 
order to secure the entry of this Steamship Company the Houston Cotton Exchange 
guaranteed them, for one year the preference on all cotton between Houston and Liver- 
pool. The success attained by this Company in handling its shipments thru Houston soon 
‘brought other foreign lines to the port as well as an increase in the number of American 
vessels handled by local agents, such as Daniel Ripley & Company, now the Texas 
Star Line, who now operate many steamers to various European ports and who main- 
tain their headquarters at Houston. 


183 


© Lt te NN A HH A HH gpe> 


At the present time there are 33 lines of steamships operating regularly out of Hous- 
ton to the following ports. 


Lines 
American Sugar” I ransitsCotpos. sme ee eee New Orleans 
Bull -Line osha sce as ches ek ee eae eae Eastern Points 
Campagne Genl Transatlantique 
French | LineSt ase ee seer irae Havre, Antwerp and Ghent 
Castlem ine 5. set ie e ineiiee eg i ope teme Antwerp, Ghent and United Kingdom Ports 
Gosutieh > 1ciney itn este oon ec cre eas eee ‘Barcelona, Venice and Trieste. 
Creole $ Lane git sesh: bia oe Genoa, Leghorn, Naples and other 


Mediterranean Ports 
Gulf West Mediterranean Line 


Harrison (icine: soy. sa ek ts orc eee Liverpool and Manchester 

Head:uine Sion. c sods See obo ane tae eee ee eee Dublin and Belfast 

Holland-American (line otro cee. ee ee Bremen, Rotterdam and Amsterdam 

Intercoastal 5/ SSLingos. che ent b= teen oe Corpus Christi, Pleiades and Freeport . 

ERS SLING a’ Loc), Se ween ss tere aie ee eer Japan and Orient 

Parrinaga. Lanes ip cco. sites pee ae ance Havre, Liverpool, Manchester and other 
United Kingdom Ports 

Leyiand Line: nate icc, ae tes © ie ee rete tee Liverpool and Manchester 

LOGEC ef iho ree Sore Gre ee ke eens ee Dublin and Belfast 

Tykes aine-—20 (dayu services. wah ain cme oe Porto Rico and Havana 

Munson line \.4 ote. dire been ah pote PM ue West Indies, Mexico and South America 

Nervion 21 ine Teste angen Px persis ae Barcelona, Genoa and other Mediterranean 
Ports 

North “German. Lloyd iteeuee oe en one Bremen and Hamburg 

Ozean Line (Freight and Passenger) ...... Bremen and Hamburg 

Pacific Caribbean and Gulf Line 

(Monthly Servite) aes cue pee an eee Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle 

Pinuilos'y Late Pet. oa ce cecaere tee eae Se Barcelona 

Seandinavian-American |: Line “4.c,.0005 4a. 08 Copenhagen and other Danish Ports 

Sipsey aBarpesec. | Owing) G0. iia. 31, ees Mobile 

pouthernt tates Lines. Pe er eee ee German and Holland Ports 

Southern Steamship Company ............ Philadelphia 

SOUL ZEL ICT Ae CaP ON tire Riki cee nk ahs ee Japan 

Texas Stared Ane soe: by ac cis eye eee Beate Havre, Antwerp, Ghent and other Trans- 
Atlantic Ports 

lamipa-o unters@ceanas/5: Comer nine ets Barcelona and Far East 

United States Shipping Board Lines ...... Bremen, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Havre, Ant- 
werp, Ghent, Genoa and Naples 

United States Shipping Board ............ Liverpool and Manchester 

United States Shipping Board ............ Japan and Oriental Ports 

United: Gulf fS/S7Comansous vee oud eae United Kingdom ports, Genoa, Venice, 


Naples, Alexandria 


184 


ore | tH NH EH gps. 


In addition to these the various oil refineries on the channel such as the Galena-Sig- 
nal Oil Company, Sinclair Refinery and the Humble Oil & Refining Company operate 
their own tank steamers to and from coastwise and foreign ports and a very large amount 


of cargo is carried in these vessels, which are supplemented by tramp tank steamers from 


various countries. ; 


In 1921 the traffic thru the port overtaxed the facilities provided for handling it 
and as the City of Houston was. not in position to increase the facilities so urgently 
needed, the so-called “Port Bill’ or Enabling Act was passed by the State Legislature 
authorizing the Navigation District, which included all of Harris County, to take over 
by purchase or lease all of the facilities previously constructed by the City of Houston 
and to construct such additional facilities as may be required and to operate them for 
the benefit of the entire County. Under this Act, five Port Commissioners were ap- 
pointed in May 1922 and on October Ist, 1922, took over by lease all of the City of 
Houston’s wharves, warehouses, railroad and other port facilities, the net revenue being 
turned in to the City in payment for this lease. This lease included the new Manchester 
Wharf completed in October 1922 built about two miles below the Turning Basin with 


1500 ft. of channel frontage donated to the City of Houston by the Manchester Corpora- 
tion. 


In order to provide additional facilities, the Navigation District called for a Bond 
issue of Four Million Dollars, which was approved by an election held on December 
30th, 1922, passing by a vote of more than four to one. The plans for the expendi- 
ture of these funds provided for the construction of three shedded wharves and one 
open wharf and a Million Bushel Grain Elevator, all to be located on the North Side of 
the Turning Basin. As soon as the funds were available, work was at once started on 
the preparation of the site in which the co-operation of the Government was secured by 
dredging back to the harbor line and removing some million and a half cu. yds. of earth. 
On January 7th, 1924, the first concrete pile was driven and at the close of the year 
1924, the four wharf units were practically complete. In fact, the shedded wharves 
-were put to use as rapidly as cargo could be handled in them, commencing with Wharf 
No. 12 in October; No. 13 in November and No. 11 in December. These wharves and 
sheds are built of reinforced concrete and are considered by Steamship men the very 
best in Southern waters in point of construction and the facilitating of handling of 
cargo. A special feature is the arrangement of the Railroad tracks in rear of the wharf 
sheds whereby, by the use of spur tracks, each wharf shed can have its own cars spotted 
or switched without interfering with the set-up of cars for any other wharf; that is, 
each wharf unit is independent of the other. This trackage arrangement patented by 
Captain B. C. Allin, Port Director, is considered a very advantageous feature in handling 
waterfront traffic. 


Plans and specifications for the Grain Elevator were drawn by the John S. Metcalf 
Company, Elevator Engineers, of Chicago, IIl., and bids were taken on this structure, 
but the prices for the Plant desired were in excess of the funds available and it was 
‘therefore necessary to re-design the Elevator on a somewhat smaller scale but with a 
layout that could be added to from time to time, and new bids will shortly be invited. 


In connection with the handling of cargo on the North Side, it was necessary to 
construct a Railroad Classification Yard with an initial capacity of about Five Hundred 


185 


cars to which units can be added as required up to a capacity of about Four thousand 
cars. Connections were also made to the trunk line railroads near the Port, such as the 
Southern Pacific Lines, International-Great Northern and Houston Belt & Terminal, and 
additional construction of the Port Belt Railroad thru Magnolia Park was provided, and 
an extension Eastward from Pasadena for about 1 1-2 miles to serve the ship yard in- 
dustry of Horton & Horton and other industries located down the channel. 


On July Ist, 1924 an arrangement was entered into between the Navigation District 
and the various Railroads entering the City of Houston providing for a new switching 
association to be known as the Port Terminal Railroad Association to take over and 
operate all the Public Belt facilities, and for rapid interchange of cars between the 
waterfront and the railroads entering the City on an impartial basis which gave equal 
facilities to every railroad. This arrangement has proved very satisfactory and facili- 
tates the movement of freight thru the port to a considerable extent. 


While the wharf facilities above described are provided by the public, private enter- 
prise has not been slow to take advantage of this deep water channel as is evidenced by 
the eleven oil refineries located on its banks. The Humble, Gulf, Crown, Galena, Sinclair 
and Deepwater have their own wharves for the handling of their import and export 
crude and refined oils. 


Many cotton compresses and storage warehouses have also been constructed along 
the channel and have made possible the handling of the huge volume of export cotton 
thru this port. The Turning Basin Compress Company, the Houston Compress Com- 
pany and Ship Channel Compress Company having facilities to load direct to steamer. 
The Houston Compress plant is especially worthy of mention as being the largest on the 
channel, operating three high density presses with a concrete wharf 1525 feet in length, a 
two story concrete shed 1750 feet long served with ample railroad tracks on the apron 
and in rear of shed. This Company is also prepared to handle general merchandise 
and other shipments thru the port, but cotton is its chief article of export. 


Many other industries have been established along the channel such as the Tex- 
Cuban Molasses Company, importers and exporters of crude molasses; Armour Ferti- 
lizer Works, manufacturing commercial fertilizer; Texas Chemical Company, manufac- 
turers of sulphuric acid, bone carbon, commercial fertilizer, etc., Texas Portland Cement 
Works, manufacturing Portland cement from clay found in the vicinity of the plant and 
mud and oyster shell dredged from Galveston Bay; the American Maid Flour Mill & 
Grain Elevator, manufacturing high grade flour for domestic use and export and numer- 
ous other industries scattered long the channel and in its vicinity. Numerous other in- 
dustries will probably be established along this waterway between Houston and Morgan 
Point, and with the expectation that this will soon be realized, the Houston Lighting & 
Power Company has constructed the first unit of a Ten Million Dollar plant to furnish 
power at a reasonable rate in any quantity required to meet the rapidly growing needs of 
Houston and its vicinity; this plant is located about five miles below the Turning Basin 
and the first unit of 40,000 K. W. was put in operation about August Ist, 1924. Deep 
draft steamers are making full use of the thirty foot depth of channel which now ex- 


186 


+o pit HH HH HN HH || HH || Hl HL | | Hl 1 Ge Lh he fe te Fe HH ee IRD @0 


tends from the Gulf to the Manchester wharf about two miles below the Turning Basin, 
while vessels using the twenty-five foot depth of channel are loading to the maximum 
draft that this section will permit. The following statement shows the rapid develop- 
ment of the commercial traffic on the channel since 1921 and each succeeding year, will 
we trust, show a corresponding increase in the development of our commerce and the 
population of our City. 


187 


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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 


352.0764 H819C C001 
City book of Houston : illustrated 1925 





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